Petition in SC seeks decommissioning of Mullaperiyar Dam

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar Dam which has been a matter of decades-long legal battle between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, saying its structure is weak.
The petition filed by advocate Russel Joy claimed that the weakness of dam is an infringement of the fundamental right of security for the life and property of people living in the
downstream in case of any catastrophe.
"An expert committee with international expertise must be formed to examine the dam and decommission it. We should form a committee as per the American Federal guidelines for dam safety," Joy said in a press conference here.

He also flayed the 2006 SC-appointed empowered committee stating the absence of experts in the panel.
The Supreme Court in its May 2, 2014 verdict had held that the dam, which is 120 years old, is safe and allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet.

The five-bench constitution bench had struck down a law promulgated by Kerala declaring Mullaperiyar dam as endangered and fixing the water level at 136 feet.
The apex court had earlier dismissed Kerala's plea to review its 2014 verdict saying there was no reason to interfere with the judgement of the Constitution Bench.

Mullaperiyar dam was constructed pursuant to the Periyar Lake Lease Agreement of October 29, 1886 across Periyar river.
The dam is situated in Thekkady district in Kerala and is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu government.