New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed for strengthening supervisory committee formed in 2014 for the safety of the over 126-year-old Mullaiperiyar dam until the National Dam Safety Authority as per the 2021 law is put in place to prevent disasters related to dam features.
A Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Abhay S Oka and CT Ravikumar ordered that two technical experts who are well-versed with the instrumentation and dam safety shall be appointed as a part of the committee within two weeks. One technical member must be from Tamilnadu and other must be from Kerala, the Court directed.
‘For the purpose of strengthening the existing supervisory committee, we also accede to the suggestions given by the party-States that two technical experts be made part of the existing supervisory committee, one each from the State of Kerala and State of Tamilnadu, who must be well-versed in dam management, reservoir operation, instrumentation, etc.,’ the apex court said.
The ‘reconstituted Supervisory Committee will decide all outstanding matters related to Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety and conduct a safety review afresh,’ the court said, adding that ‘for this purpose, it may frame terms of reference in accordance with the provisions of the 2021 Act.’