TN opposes Centre’s nod to Kerala for study on new dam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday opposed the Centre’s nod to Kerala's proposal to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment Study for construction of a new dam in place of the existing Mullaperiyar reservoir located inside the neighbouring state.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami said the approval for conducting the study has caused “great apprehension and consternation among the people of Tamil Nadu" since the move violated the Supreme Court order on the issue. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are locked in a bitter dispute over the Mullaperiyar dam, which is located inside Kerala, but maintained by the Tamil Nadu PWD Department.

While the Kerala government wants to build a new dam near the existing structure, the Tamil Nadu administration opposes the move saying there was no need since the current dam is strong.

Palaniswami said the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects had made the recommendation at a meeting held on September 27 and sought Modi’s intervention in directing the Environment Ministry to forthwith withdraw the recommendations to grant Terms of Reference for the study.