Mullaperiyar issue: SC gives Kerala time to file response

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Nov. 2. The Supreme Court today granted five weeks' time to the Kerala Government to file its response to the report of the expert committee set up to study the safety aspect of the Mullaperiyar dam and raising the water level in Mullaperiyar reservoir.

A Bench comprising Mr. Justice S.S.M. Quadri and Mr. Justice S.N. Phukan granted the time during the resumed hearing of the petitions by the Janata Party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, and the Tamil Nadu Government seeking raising the water level of the dam from 136 ft. to 152 ft.

On November 17, 2000, the court had directed the Centre, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to file their responses to the interim report of the expert committee set up by the Centre on the directives of the apex court.

While the Centre and the Tamil Nadu Government had filed their replies, the Kerala Government had not sent its reply so far. The Bench, therefore, granted further five weeks' time to Kerala to file its response.

Tamil Nadu, in its response, said the expert committee had recommended strengthening measures for the `Baby' dam, and Kerala should give permission for the execution of these measures. The committee, which considered the dissenting note of Kerala, opined that the points raised by Kerala ``are neither feasible nor well- founded''.

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Section  : Southern States
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