Munmun Kaur-
Published On: December 09, 2021 at 14:40 IST
Kerala Government aggrieved from Tamil Nadu repeatedly releasing water to Periyar from Mullaperiyar reservoir during the night, approached the Apex Court for intervention.
Through its application, the Kerala Government sought a directive from the SC to Tamil Nadu, 24 hours prior notice to the State of opening the spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam, especially during the night.
Kerala’s standing counsel G Prakash also pleaded that Tamil Nadu is told to maintain a steady release of water from the dam both day and night. He enlightened the Court of the havoc caused to the life and property of the residents of the downstream areas that get flooded due to the reckless release of water by Tamil Nadu.
Kerala also urged the Court to constitute a joint technical onsite committee for spillway release with two members from Tamil Nadu and two from Kerala to decide on matters like that of quantity and time of surplus discharge. Also, a direction is issued that Tamil Nadu would have to follow the recommendations of the said committee.
Earlier, the water resources Minister Roshy Augustine, visited the downstream areas. He was received with a protest from the residents who suffered from their houses being flooded from the 12,654.09 cusecs of water that was released in Periyar on Monday night.
The minister had then stated ,”The opening of shutters during night time is unacceptable. The state government has already requested them to avoid the opening of shutters at night but to no avail. We will approach the apex court against the unilateral decisions taken by Tamil Nadu”.
