NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw its interim plea seeking deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force to protect the Mullaiperiyar dam in Kerala.
“Once the decree is passed, you cannot file interim applications in it. You seek execution of the decree and you may seek review of the verdict if you want any modification,” said a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur.
Senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for Tamil Nadu, then said the State will file a review petition in the matter. The government had in its plea sought a direction that the dam be secured by the CISF, as Kerala does not facilitate the management of the dam by Tamil Nadu employees.
The Tamil Nadu government had moved the apex court seeking CISF security for the dam, which is currently handled by the Kerala government.
In its May 7, 2014, verdict, the SC had held that the 120-year-old Mullaiperiyar dam was safe and allowed the Tamil Nadu government to raise the water level to 142 feet and ultimately to 152 feet after completion of strengthening measures on the facility.
In a setback to the Kerala government, a five-judge Constitution Bench had struck down a law promulgated by it declaring Mullaiperiyar dam as endangered and fixing the water level at 136 feet.