No plans to initiate discussion between Kerala and TN: Centre on Mullaperiyar dam

New Delhi: The Union Government has revealed its stance on the Mullaperiyar issue in Parliament on Thursday.

The government maintained that it currently has no proposal to initiate discussions between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar. Also, there are no plans to approve funds for constructing a new dam.

On the issue of safety, the government emphasised that the responsibility for the dam's safety audit lies with the owner, which, in this case, is the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department. In line with the Dam Safety Act, 2021, this department conducts pre- and post-monsoon inspections annually. The Supervisory Committee for the Mullaperiyar Dam, which includes members from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala, recently inspected the dam on June 13. The inspection concluded that the overall condition of the dam and its appurtenant structures is satisfactory, the government noted.

It further said that a comprehensive dam safety evaluation was deliberated by the Committee.

The government informed its stance in response to an unstarred question asked by Kerala MP Adv. Dean Kuriakose.