THE MULLAPERIYAR INTER-BASIN WATER TRANSFER, WATER CONFLICTS, AND DAM SAFETY
Ajith D
Introduction
Since the late 1970s, the safety of Mullaperiyar dam has
in Kerala’s Idukki district on
been the epicenter of a controversy between the two
South Indian neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil
Nadu. The Poster accordingly looks at the issue of dam
safety as it has considerable potential to lead to
acrimonious conflicts that can destabilise the federal
structure.
A few legal issue
Tamil Nadu is a Lessee.
Mullaperiyar is an Intra-State River
The Inequitable Colonial and Subsequent
Agreements are Violative of articles 14 and 39 (b)
of the Constitution
Exclusion of Kerala from the Management of the
Mullaperiyar Dam violates Articles 14, 21 and the
Spirit of Co-operative Federalism
Mullaperiyar is not a Precedent that should
influence future River-Linking Projects
Understanding the Role of Courts in Dam Safety
The Principle of Precaution is the Cornerstone
Jurisprudential Principle for Dam Safety
The Mullaperiyar Controversy: The Story so Far The Way Forward
The Mullaperiyar dam, located
the Periyar river basin.
The construction of a new dam that
The British built it to divert water to the water-scarce
incorporates modern technological
agricultural lands of TN.
designs
As per the contract, Kerala was entitled to receive a lease
decommissioning of the old dam,
amount of Rs 40,000 per annum
and removal of the debris without
In 1959, Tamil Nadu started to generate power using the
interfering with the local ecology
dam-waters without prior consent from Kerala.
Need for a Dam Safety Law
in 1961, there were questions regarding the safety of the
Mullaperiyar dam after there were floods in the region
1998, the Tamil Nadu government wanted to raise the
height of the water level, but Kerala opposed it.
In 2006, the Supreme Court allowed Tamil Nadu to raise
the water level
Results and Discussions
It must be emphasised that the people of
Tamil Nadu and Kerala share a common
Dravidian heritage, and are intrinsically linked Acknowledment
in social, cultural, and economical matters,
Puthucherril, Tony George. "The Mullaperiyar Inter-Basin Water
and therefore it is in their best interests that Transfer, Water Conflicts, and Dam Safety." LAWS GOVERNING
the waters at the Mullaperiyar are utilised in a INTER-STATE & INTERNATIONAL WATER DISPUTES,
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JURIDICIAL SCIENCES, Edited by
manner that provides the most benefits to the
Prof. Ishwar Bhat et. al (2012).
greatest number of people in both the states.