Consider bringing down Mullaperiyar dam water level by 3 feet: Supreme Court tells panel
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and a sub-committee set up by Kerala government to deal with the flood situation in the state to coordinate and explore the possibility of reducing the water level at the Mullaperiyar Dam by 3 feet. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice D Y Chandrachud asked Kerala and TN to abide by the directions given by NCMC on the rehabilitation of displaced people and the reduction of water level from the existing 142 feet to 139 feet at the dam.
The bench observed that it was not an expert to deal with such severe natural calamity and was leaving the decision to the executive to manage the crisis and asked Kerala to submit the report on the steps taken on disaster management and rehabilitation measures by August 24.The bench asked the authorities to notify a disaster management plan to the public in Kerala, so that people ultimately do not suffer a catastrophe. It also appreciated Kerala government’s efforts in rescuing people trapped.
Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha told the bench that the meeting of the committees as directed by the court was still in progress, and that a decision would be taken soon. “The situation at the dam site is being monitored continuously at the highest level,” he informed.The court also ordered that the decision taken by NCMC about reduction of water level should be followed by TN.