Mullaperiyar dam case: Petitioner moves SC, seeks to implead National Dam Safety Authority

New Delhi: An application has been moved in the Supreme Court, seeking to make the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) a party in the ongoing Mullaperiyar Dam case.

The application was moved by Dr. Joe Joseph, a resident of Kothamangalam, who had previously filed a petition concerning the safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam. The petitioner also requested that the NDSA conduct daily safety assessments of the dam. 

The National Dam Safety Authority was established by the Union Government under the Dam Safety Act, passed by Parliament in 2021. Functioning under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the NDSA consists of technical experts responsible for overseeing dam safety across the country. 

Joseph alleged that the supervisory committee responsible for the Mullaperiyar Dam only visits the site once or twice a year for inspections. A sub-committee formed by the supervisory committee reportedly visits the dam only once every three months. According to Joseph, these irregular inspections are inadequate for ensuring the dam's safety. He argues that there is no effective system in place to consistently monitor the dam's condition.

Joseph has urged the Supreme Court to direct the National Dam Safety Authority to implement a daily safety assessment system for the Mullaperiyar Dam.