New Monitoring Committee formed for Mullaperiyar Dam safety, to be led by NDSA Chairman

New Delhi: The safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam has been officially handed over to the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), as the government takes steps to address safety concerns. A new monitoring committee has been formed to oversee all issues related to the dam’s safety, with the chairman of the NDSA set to lead it.

Earlier, the Central Water Commission informed the Supreme Court that it would transfer the responsibility for overseeing the Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety to the NDSA. In line with this decision, the Union Ministry of Water Resources issued an order formalising the transfer of responsibility.

Dissolution of old committee, formation of new one

The previous Mullaperiyar Monitoring Committee has been dissolved, and a new committee has been established. Previously, the chairman of the Water Commission led the committee, but under the new structure, the chairman of the NDSA will take on this role.

The newly formed monitoring committee will consist of seven members, including the additional chief secretaries from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the chairman of Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Cell, and the chairman of Kerala's Irrigation Department. A representative from the Centre for Excellence at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has also been included in the committee.

The safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam has long been a concern, with Kerala repeatedly requesting stronger oversight in the Supreme Court. The formation of the NDSA and the new monitoring committee is seen as a step toward addressing these concerns, in line with the Dam Safety Act passed by Parliament in 2021.