New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked
Tamil Nadu and Kerala to "extend cooperation" to the empowered
committee appointed by it to go into the safety and other
aspects of the Mullaperiyar dam row, after the panel
complained about non-cooperation by the two states.
"We want both the states to extend cooperation to the
committee," the five-judge Constitution bench observed after
the panel in its interim report stated that it was unable to
complete the task as the two governments were not cooperating
with it.
The panel while complaining about the alleged non-
cooperation of the two states sought additional time for
submission of its report upon which the apex court granted
time till April 30.
The bench comprising justices D K Jain, R M Lodha, Deepak
Verma, C K Prasad and A R Dave while passing the direction
listed the matter for further hearing to May 4.
While senior counsel B A Bobde and Umpathi Srinivasan
appeared for Tamil Nadu, senior advocate V Giri appeared for
Kerala.
While Kerala wants to demolish the dam located in its
Idukki district due to the perceived ecological threat and
possible collapse of the dam, Tamil Nadu wants the structure
to be protected as it caters to irrigation and drinking water
needs of a dozen of its districts.
The five-member Empowered Committee, headed by former
Chief Justice of India A S Anand has so far heard the views of
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Centre on the issues framed by it.
Subsequently, it entrusted studies in the dam, including
marine and naval diving tests to reputed institutes.
PTI
