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