Mullaperiyar dam: Govt should work out solution, says SC

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the state governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to work out a solution to the problem of raising the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendran also said in its order that the Central government may also find some solution independently or join hands with the state governments.

The state of Tamil Nadu wants to raise the height of the dam to raise the water level from 136 ft. to 142 ft.

The Kerala government passed an Act to nullify the orders of the court. Kerala is opposed to the rise in height of the dam as it apprehends that it would expand the submergence zone uprooting lakhs of people.

The court while adjourning the hearing till November reminded the two states this court is already seized of disputes among so many states for example SYL dispute between Punjab and Haryana, Dispute between State of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and boundary dispute between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Senior Counsel Harish Salve appearing for Kerala, however ,made it clear that Kerala had no objection if Tamil Nadu wanted to carry out repairs.

UNI AKS/SC RP PM1952