SC issues notice to Centre over Mullaperiyar dam's security

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on Tamil Nadu government's plea demanding CISF protection for the Mullaperiyar dam, which is being guarded at present by the Kerala Police.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice A.K. Sikri sought the Centre's response on Tamil Nadu's pleas, expressing apprehensions about the security of the dam -- a bone of contention between the neighbouring states.

Mullaperiyar dam is maintained by the Tamil Nadu government but its security is with the Kerala Police and Tamil Nadu pays for it.

While seeking the Centre's response for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security for Mullaperiyar dam, the court Friday allowed Kerala government to withdraw its application seeking clarification if it will have to raise the water-level of dam to 142 feet even if all the 13 spillway gates of the dam for the release of excess water were non-operational.

The application, moved last year, was filed in the wake of heavy rains in November 2014 that had swelled the water-level in the dam.

One of the 13 spillway gates was under repair after being damaged. It was apprehended that there might be threat to the safety of the dam if, in the eventuality of releasing the excess water, all spillway gates were not functional.

Initially the court declined to entertain Kerala's plea for clarification and dismissed it saying: "Once we have decided, how can we clarify our own judgment."

However, the court allowed Kerala to withdraw its plea for clarification after senior counsel Rajiv Dhawan urged the court to permit the state government with its clarification application.

The apex court by its May 7, 2014, verdict had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level in Mullaperiyar dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.

It had already Dec 2, 2014 dismissed the Kerala government's plea seeking the review of the May 7 verdict by which the court had struck down the 2006 Kerala Act that had sought to restrict the water-level in Mullaperiyar dam at 136 feet.