Safety First: The Hindu Editorial on the Mullaperiyar Controversy and Dam Safety Authority

Central Water Commission (CWC) Proposal Allowing the Mullaperiyar dam’s supervisory committee to continue for a year essentially means continuing the status quo. The proposal makes the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala accountable and provides for the participation of technical experts as panel members. The proposed arrangement, which was presented before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, has become necessary as the CWC is of the view that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), the regulatory body that has been envisaged under the recently enacted Act dam safety act, would require one year to be fully functional. On Thursday, both the states are expected to inform the court about their response. Given the characteristics of the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar dam and the controversies surrounding its lime and mortar structure, the two states will have little to complain about sticking to the existing arrangement for some more time, though they may There is a difference in the way we approach it. Dam Located in Kerala, it is used by TN for many purposes. While Tamil Nadu is keen to complete the strengthening work to raise the water level from 142 feet to 152 feet, Kerala wants to build a new dam. In the backdrop of landslides following heavy rains in Kerala, fear, though lost, has arisen over the structural stability of the dam. Despite these fears being addressed through technical and scientific bodies, the issue of safety comes up time and again. What this underscores is that there should be no room for complacency about the safety of the dam. For the same purpose, the apex court is also addressing the issue of having a stronger institutional mechanism than the existing supervisory committee, which has been rendered virtually toothless.

Ideally, the authority would be appropriate to handle issues relating to Mullaperiyar, as the Act empowers the body to play the role of State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO) in this context as the NDSA assumes the role of SDSO for the dam. Located in one state and owned by the other. But, as the authority needs more time to be fully established, the Center has chosen to rely on the existing framework, with the respective chief secretaries made accountable. With a sub-committee under the supervisory committee and another panel under the National Disaster Management Authority, the oversight mechanism appears to be fine. Yet, no matter how well the plan is designed, it is up to the officials to ensure that their actions instil public confidence during monsoons, when the issue of security takes precedence in Kerala. It is also their duty to ensure that there is no panic and deal with the intimidators.