SC to strengthen Mullaperiyar supervisory panel, power of dam safety authority to be relocated

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said the legal powers of the national dam safety authority will be temporarily transferred to the supervisory panel in the Mullaperiyar case. The central government had informed the court that it needed one more year to make the authority fully operational. The powers are temporarily relocated to the supervisory panel. The court said the supervisory panel would be strengthened after including one more member from both states. An order in this regard will be issued on Thursday. In case of failure on the part of Kerala or Tamil Nadu to implement the recommendation of the supervisory panel, they can approach the Supreme Court.

The case was considered by a bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar. The court directed to hand over the minutes after discussing the court’s directive. A plea filed by Joe Joseph, a native of Kothamangalam, sought further strengthening of the Mullaperiyar Supervisory Panel and further expansion of its functions.