Raise dam storage level to 142 ft: TN

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government on Friday requested the Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee that the storage level in Mullaiperiyar dam should be increased to 142 feet from the existing 136 feet. The State was replying to Kerala government’s contention that water level in the dam should be reduced to 120 feet. Kerala claims that increasing water level in the more than a century-0ld dam poses a threat to stability of the structure. The Tamil Nadu government also filed a detailed reply before the Committee arguing why Kerala’s demand was wrong.The next meeting of the Empowered Committee is scheduled to be held on January 2 and PWD Secretary M Saikumar and counsels for the State will take part.The Empowered Committee have completed several rounds of tests along Mullaiperiyar dam and is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court in February. The Supreme Court, in its 2006 ruling, had asked the Kerala government to increase the maximum storage level in the dam from 136 feet to 142 feet.