The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Assembly passes Bill to curb dam height

The Bill specifically fixes the maximum permissible water levels for 22 major and minor reservoirs, including Mullaperiyar. The permissible limit for Mullaperiyar is 136 feet. Unanimous resolution on Mullaperiyar dispute

Thiruvananthapuram , March 15

The State Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2006, which seeks to vest the Dam Safety Authority with the powers to take decisions on matters with regard to the safety of 22 major and minor dams in the State.

The Bill was passed on the concluding day of the two-day special session of the House that was convened to discuss the recent Supreme Court verdict in Mullaperiyar case asking the State Government to allow Tamil Nadu to raise the reservoir level to 142 feet from the existing 136 feet.

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, said that the unanimous passing of the Bill pointed to the strong sentiments of the whole State on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

He reiterated that the State did not want to deny Tamil Nadu the waters being diverted across the inter-State borders. The concern was solely about the safety of the people living in the downstream districts of the 111-year old dam.

The Bill specifically fixes the maximum permissible water levels for 22 major and minor reservoirs, including Mullaperiyar. The permissible limit for Mullaperiyar is 136 feet.

The original Act (Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act), envisaging setting up the Dam Safety Authority consisting of dam and legal experts, was passed in 2003.

The latest Bill adds fresh provisions giving power to the authority to direct the "custodian" of any dam to suspend the functioning of the dam, restrict its functioning, or even decommission it if it poses threat to human life or property. In the case of Mullaperiyar dam, the "custodian" is the Tamil Nadu Government.

The State Water Resources Minister, Mr Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, said the government had received legal advice that the State legislature was competent to enact such a law. The government would proceed further on the matter after getting legal opinion, he added.

PAY REVISION

A resolution was passed by the State Assembly requesting the Election Commission to allow the State to implement the Pay Commission Report revising wages of government employees and teachers.

It said the permission should be given as necessary funds for the wage revision were included in the Budget presented on February 10. The EC had stayed the implementation of the report on the grounds that its code of conduct has come into effect with the announcement of Assembly polls.

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