SC’s strong intervention in Mullaperiyar; supervisory committee given full authority of dam

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued an order giving more powers to the Mullaperiyar Supervisory Committee. The bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar passed the main judgment.

The supervisory committee will have full powers coming under the dam safety act until the new authority comes into force. There is also a proposal to reorganize the supervisory committee.

One technical expert from Kerala and Tamil Nadu will be included in the committee in two weeks. The public can also file a complaint before the committee. The supervisory committee is expected to submit a progress report on their activities to the Supreme Court on May 7.

Meantime, the apex court had earlier rejected Kerala's demand for the removal of the chairman of the supervisory committee. The central government said it will take at least a year for the dam safety authority to become operational. Until then, the Centre had informed the court that the supervisory committee should continue.