Supreme Court’s observations on Mullaperiyar dam an injustice to T.N., says Vaiko

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said on Tuesday that the observations of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on the Mullaperiyar dam would cause a great injustice to Tamil Nadu.

While hearing a petition by the Save Kerala Brigade seeking a direction to decommission the dam, the judge said the court would consider issuing directions to reinforce the structure and refer the matter to an expert body to examine its safety and assess the feasibility of constructing a new dam.

Mr. Vaiko pointed out that the committee, headed by Justice A.S. Anand, which studied the safety of the dam, had submitted a report to the Supreme Court stating that the dam could withstand earthquakes, and that other dams such as the Baby Dam and the Idukki Dam were safe. “The committee has also said that even if the water level is raised to 152 feet, it will not pose any threat to its safety,” Mr. Vaiko said, recalling the committee’s report.

Demand for demolition

He said it was highly condemnable that the Kerala government and Save Kerala Brigade had filed a petition seeking permission to demolish the dam. “We have to defeat the conspiracy of Kerala,” he said in a statement.