New Delhi: The Supreme Court declared that a new order will be released soon by entrusting more powers to the Supervisory Committee of Mullaperiyar dam.The court also directed Kerala and Tamil Nadu to convene an immediate meeting to prepare recommendations for dispensing powers to the Supervisory Committee. The minutes of the meeting have to be submitted to the court on Tuesday. SC opined to let the Supervisory Committee derive a decision regarding the construction of a new dam in Mullaperiyar.
The bench presided by justice AM Khanwilkar stated that the committee is being assigned with more powers to find a permanent solution for the issues related to the Mullaperiyar dam. Kerala and Tamil Nadu had informed the court that the currently functioning Supervisory Committee has no sufficient powers. The committee itself had also raised a complaint that their recommendations are not seriously considered by the authorities. Hence, SC has decided to empower the Supervisory Committee by considering the issues raised at the court.
Kerala had requested to constitute technical experts in the committee while revamping it. The court has informed the state that it will also be addressed in the upcoming order.
The court upheld that the technical experts have to conclude whether the dam is safe or not. The bench also assured that the court is not cogitating to increase the water level of the dam by more than 142 feet. Though Kerala again raised the demand for a new dam in Mullaperiyar, the court reserved the final decision for the Supervisory Committee.
The three-member bench hearing the case constitutes Justices AM Khanwilkar, Abhay S Oka and CT Ravi Kumar. Senior lawyer Jaydeep Gupta and advocate G Prakash had appeared for Kerala, while senior advocate Shekhar Naphade turned up for Tamil Nadu at the Supreme Court.
SC empowers Mullaperiyar Supervisory Committee with more powers, including final call on new dam added by Webdesk on
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