Mullaperiyar: Kerala's proposal for new dam hits a roadblock following Stalin's intervention

New Delhi: Kerala's proposal for a new dam at Mullaperiyar hit a roadblock with the Environment Ministry postponing its meeting scheduled for Tuesday to discuss the matter, apparently following an intervention by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. 

Stalin urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, in a letter, not to grant permission to Kerala to conduct an environmental impact assessment study for the construction of a new dam in Mullaperiyar. 

The meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had its postponement announced on Monday afternoon. It is worth noting that Chief Engineer of the Kerala Irrigation Design and Research Board (IDRB) Priyesh R and director Sreedevi P had already arrived in Delhi for the meeting, adding intrigue to the situation.

Tamil Nadu's letter pointed out that any attempts by the Kerala Government to construct a new dam would contravene the Supreme Court's verdict, and that such actions should not be authorised. It wanted initiation of contempt of court proceedings if Kerala proceeded with any such actions. It is learned that the Ministry's sudden decision to postpone the meeting came as a result of these concerns.

Tamil Nadu's correspondence mentioned that various expert committees had already assured the Supreme Court of the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam. The letter stressed that Kerala's intentions to construct the dam would run counter to the essence of the Supreme Court's ruling.