The Central Water Commission's recent decision to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the 128-year-old Mullaperiyar Dam reflects Kerala's longstanding concerns and anxieties about the dam's safety. However, this move has been met with strong opposition from Tamil Nadu, which has resisted such safety checks for years.

In a meeting held in Delhi yesterday, the Central Water Commission dismissed Tamil Nadu's argument that a safety inspection is only required by 2026 under the Dam Safety Act. Instead, the Commission mandated that the inspection must be completed within twelve months. The last safety inspection of the Mullaperiyar Dam was conducted by an expert team in 2011. Since then, several floods and flood-like situations have occurred, but Tamil Nadu’s stubbornness has prevented any follow-up inspections.

In 2022, the Supreme Court reconstituted the Mullaperiyar Supervisory Committee and ordered a comprehensive inspection of the dam. Initially, Tamil Nadu refused to comply, staying away from the directive. However, facing the threat of contempt of court, Tamil Nadu has now agreed to the safety check, albeit reluctantly.

For decades, the safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam, which is over a century old, has been a source of deep concern for Kerala. The Central Water Commission’s decision provides a glimmer of hope, even as Tamil Nadu continues to reject Kerala's proposal to construct a new dam in place of the aging structure.

To secure a favorable decision for building a new dam, Kerala must convincingly present its arguments, supported by robust scientific and technical data. We need to be equipped with strong statistics to counter Tamil Nadu’s claims and advocate for our position effectively. In the past, Kerala’s lack of serious engagement with this issue has allowed Tamil Nadu to gain the upper hand in the Mullaperiyar dispute. We must avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

Tamil Nadu views the Mullaperiyar issue through an emotional lens, deeply intertwined with its state politics. Cases related to the dam have been ongoing in the Supreme Court for years, with Tamil Nadu’s influence leading to setbacks for Kerala, including the court’s permission to raise the water level in the dam.

If the upcoming safety inspection reveals any problems with the dam's integrity, it will strengthen Kerala’s case for a new dam. This could be a critical step toward realizing the construction of a safer alternative. Kerala has repeatedly assured Tamil Nadu that it will bear the full cost of building the new dam and has even offered to provide more water than what Tamil Nadu currently receives from Mullaperiyar. Despite these assurances, Tamil Nadu remains resolute in its stance, refusing to compromise.

The threats posed by heavy rains, potential earthquakes and landslides, like those experienced in Wayanad, underscore the urgency of addressing the safety concerns at Mullaperiyar. If a disaster were to occur, it would endanger the lives and livelihoods of people in five districts of Kerala. It is crucial to recognize that no expert committee in the world can guarantee the safety of a century-old dam with absolute certainty.

Kerala must continue to push for the construction of a new dam while ensuring that the upcoming safety inspection is thorough and transparent. The lives of thousands of people depend on the decisions made in the coming months.