Plea in SC seeks lowering of water level in Mullaperiyar dam in view of Wayanad disaster

Petition filed to reduce Mullaperiyar dam water level to prevent catastrophic breach, risking millions of lives in Kerala.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court to bring down the permissible water level of the British-era Mullaperiyar dam, situated in the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Kerala, from 142 feet to 120 feet to obviate the possibility of the dam breaching.

The petition filed by advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara referred to the recent landslides in Wayanad, which claimed over 220 lives, making it one of the worst natural disasters in recent times. “In view of the recent tragedy that occurred in Wayanad, the water level of the dam has to be brought below 120 ft as many experts have opined,” it said.

Mr. Nedumpara, who is petitioner-in-person, red-flagged that if the Mullaperiyar dam breached, “lives and properties of five million people of Kerala would be at grave risk”.

The petition said the limestone-and-surkhi-made dam was commissioned in 1895 and had an estimated lifespan of 50 years. “The dam is now 129 years old, over double its intended lifespan,” it noted.

“Millions of Keralites fear that the dam may break. If it happens, it is said that there is every possibility of the Idukki arch dam giving away among several other smaller dams. If that happens, the districts of Idukki, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam will be completely washed away,” the petition claimed.

The plea argued that two judgments of the Supreme Court, in 2006 and 2014, had prevented the decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar dam, and the construction of a new dam in its place.

It said the judgments were erroneous. The plea said that in the event of Mullaperiyar dam breaking, the flood waters would be absorbed by the Idukki dam. According to Mr. Nedumpara, the two judgments found the dam “eternally safe”.