Mullaperiyar - Kerala files petition against technical experts

The Government of Kerala has filed a petition against the Technical Experts appointed by the Supreme Court to study the Mullaperiyar dam. The complaint was filed on Monday with the Supreme Court appointed Empowered Panel on Mullaperiyar. Kerala criticizes the stand taken by the technical experts of the while visiting the dam in December as per the order of the Supreme Court.

The government filed the petition as per the legal advice from senior advocate Harish Salve, who represents Kerala in court in the Mullaperiyar case.

In the complaint, Kerala says that CD Thatte and KK Mehta, experts of the panel who visited the dams, rescinded the court directions and ill treated the officials of Water Resource Department from Kerala.

The inspection was on 23 December. The experts had been already alleged to be in favour of Tamil Nadu. They did not pay attention to the officials of the Kerala and the views of the state. They had even a short argument with the Idukki district collector. However, the panel heard the PWD officials from Tamil Nadu. Protesting against this treatment, the Kerala officials boycotted the inspection. They also alleged that Tamil Nadu had conducted the sonic testing at three locations only in a single block in the middle portion of the dam. That was against the directions of the court as it had ordered to mark locations covering three different blocks on either side of the dam as well as the middle.
The experts submitted their report on the safety to the Empowered committee headed by former chief justice of India Justice AS Anand on Monday. The observations are expected to be against the demands Kerala as they are going to be discussed on Tuesday.

Kerala also took another blow when the committee observed that there is no need of a new dam at Mullaperiyar. It was in the hearing on Monday, the committee opined that. The dam can be retained by taking proper measures with the help of new technology, the committee said in single tone. Both Kerala and Tamil Nadu sticked on their views. Kerala said that a new dam is required for the safety of 40 lakhs people whereas Tamil Nadu said the claims of Kerala are baseless. Meanwhile, both the states have been asked to file their response on the issue by Friday.