Setback for Kerala: Will take steps to raise water level of Mullaperiyar dam, says Tamil Nadu govt

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has announced that it will take steps to raise the water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam. The announcement was made in the first Budget of the C. Joseph Vijay-led government, presented on Wednesday. Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson said the government would increase the dam's water level based on existing agreements and court rulings. He added that the government would take the necessary legal steps to secure its right to store more water in the reservoir.

Tamil Nadu has long demanded that the water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam be raised. The latest announcement aims to secure the state's legal right to store water beyond the current operational level.

Meanwhile, the announcement has raised concerns in Kerala. The state has consistently opposed increasing the water level, citing safety concerns over the ageing dam. Kerala has maintained that a new dam should be constructed. Tamil Nadu, however, has argued that the dam is safe and that strengthening works have already been completed, making it suitable for storing more water.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had permitted Tamil Nadu to raise the water level of the Mullaperiyar Dam to 142 feet. However, following concerns raised by Kerala, the operational water level has remained capped at 136 feet. The latest Budget announcement indicates that the Vijay government is likely to move ahead with legal and administrative steps to increase the dam's water level. The Kerala government has not yet responded to the announcement.