SC to hear Mullaperiyar dam dispute between TN, Kerala next yr

New Delhi, Nov 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court today fixed January 20, 21 and 22 next year for hearing of the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the issue of raising water level at Mullaperiyar dam.

Tamil Nadu has filed a suit against Kerala alleging that Kerala government is violating the Supreme Court order permitting Tamil Nadu to raise the water level from 136 metres to 145 metres.

State of Kerala is, however, strongly opposed to the issue of raising the water level on the grounds that it will endanger lives of millions living in Kerala on the base of the dam as the dam is in a precarious condition at several places and it may give way any time as it has already outlived its sanctioned life.

Tamil Nadu has, however, contended that there is no threat to the Mullaperiyar dam and Kerala government is deliberately raising a false bogey of threat to the dam and it is detrimental to the interests of Tamil Nadu.

A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat fixed the suit for final hearing in January next year.

UNI SC AE RP RK1944