Kerala to move Supreme Court for Mullaperiyar dam safety inspection
Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph announced plans to seek central intervention in the dispute with Tamil Nadu.
The Kerala government will file a special petition in the Supreme Court to enforce a 2024 judgment that allows for a detailed safety inspection of the Mullaperiyar dam, according to The Federal.
Water Resources Minister Mons Joseph said on Monday that senior advocate Mohan V Kattarki has been appointed as lead counsel for the case. The state will also request the Centre to intervene in the long-standing dispute with Tamil Nadu regarding the dam.
Regarding the Baby Dam, Joseph stated that the state has already notified the apex court that it met all stipulated conditions. He also noted that a safety assessment of 22 dams under the Water Authority and Irrigation Department must be finished by December 31.
The minister detailed a plan to restructure the Water Resources Department and the Kerala Water Authority to improve irrigation and drinking water supply. A new water policy, intended to unify various departmental wings, is expected to be released in early 2027.
To address water loss in Thiruvananthapuram, where nearly half of the water from Aruvikkara fails to reach consumers, a pilot project using new technology will be launched. The government is also studying desalination plants and ways to turn water hyacinth in Kuttanad into value-added products.
A Kerala Water Conclave is scheduled for the first week of December in Thiruvananthapuram. The government also aims to complete asset mapping of departmental land within six months to address encroachments.