Context
Tamil Nadu has recently accused Kerala in the Supreme Court of complaining about the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam.
Key Highlights
- The dam is located at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
- The dam is located entirely in Kerala.
- It was constructed within the past due 1800s in the princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala) and given to the British-ruled Madras Presidency on a 999-year lease in 1886.
- The settlement granted complete rights to Tamil Nadu to assemble irrigation projects on the land.
- The dam was constructed to divert eastwards a part of the west-flowing Periyar river, to feed the arid regions of Tamil Nadu.
Situation after Independence
- After independence, the Kerala government said that the earlier agreement signed between British Raj and Travancore was invalid and needed to be renewed.
- As a result, the settlement was renewed in the Seventies.
- Tamil Nadu was given rights to the land and the water from the dam as well as the government to increase hydro-power projects at the site.
- Kerala received rent in return.
Origin of the dispute
- Safety concerns surfaced in 1979 after it was stated in the Kerala that a minor earthquake had precipitated cracks within the dam.
- The Central Water Commission was asked to observe the structure and endorse methods to reinforce it.
- As an emergency measure, the fee advocated that the extent of water saved in the reservoir be decreased to 136 ft from about 142 ft.
- It held that the water level may be raised to the dam’s full potential of 152 feet after the form was strengthened.
- This triggered two divergent perspectives leading to the emergence of dispute between those two states:
- Tamil Nadu claims that although it has undertaken periodic maintenance on the dam, the Kerala government has not allowed it to raise the water level.
- Kerala, alternatively, contends it isn’t safe to raise the water level as Idukki district, wherein the dam is positioned, is earthquake-inclined.
Supreme Court Judgement
- In 2006, the Supreme Court allowed the Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level to 142 ft, contending that the apprehensions raised by means of Kerala had been baseless.
- The Kerala government countered this with a modification to the 2003 Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act.
- The modification labeled the Mullaperiyar dam as endangered and limited the extent of water in it to 136 ft.
- This modification was declared unconstitutional by way of the SC in 2014.
- In 2014, SC stated that Kerala could not hinder Tamil Nadu from raising the water level to 142 ft.
- To allay Kerala’s concerns, it directed that a three-member supervisory committee be installation to:
- oversee the technique of elevating the water level,
- inspect the dam robotically, and
- inspect the safety concerns.
Provisions for the distribution of water in Indian Constitution
- The applicable provisions of the Indian Constitution are
- Entry 17 in the State List,
- Entry 56 in the Union List, and
- Article 262
Dam Safety Act and Mullaperiyar dam
- The act is geared toward addressing the long-felt need for addressing troubles regarding the safety of foremost dams all around the country.
- The act came into pressure in December 2021.
- It presents for surveillance, inspection, operation, and preservation of positive dams for prevention of screw ups related to dam failure.
- It also creates institutional mechanisms to ensure their safe functioning.
Source: The Indian Express
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Q.Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? (2010)
Dam/Lake River
(a) Govind Sagar : Satluj (b) Kolleru Lake : Krishna
(c) Ukai Reservoir: Tapi (d) Wular Lake : Jhelum
Ans: (b)
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