Dam row: SC-appointed panel lukewarm to Kerala's plea

New Delhi, Jan 4: Kerala government's plea to reduce the water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam is understood to have not found favour with a Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee.

Kerala had pleaded that the water level should be reduced from the present level of 136 ft to 120 ft to make the 116-year-old structure safe.

The Committee is learnt to have taken the view that since the water level was decided by the Supreme Court, it could not take a decision to the contrary.

But sources maintained silence on the internal report submitted to it by the technical panel on the safety aspect of the dam yesterday.

Both states have stuck to their known stands on the vexed issue with Tamil Nadu contending that the dam was safe and can withstand pressure and Kerala rejecting them outright.

The Committee is expected to meet again later this month to finalise its report which it plans to submit to the apex court in February.

PTI