Today, On 13th October , The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre and Tamil Nadu on a plea by a Kerala NGO seeking the decommissioning of the Mullaperiyar Dam, described as “one of the oldest in existence,” and the construction of a new dam.
The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Central government and the State of Tamil Nadu regarding a petition calling for the decommissioning of the historic Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala and the construction of a new dam in its place.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran requested responses from both the Union government and Tamil Nadu following a petition filed by the Kerala-based organization, Save Kerala Brigade.
CJI Gavai noted the dam’s age, remarking that it is one of the oldest in existence.
Senior Advocate V Giri, representing the petitioner, agreed, stating that the dam is 130 years old.
He highlighted the associated risks, saying,
“But the life of about 10 million people are at the risk of loss.”
In response, CJI Gavai suggested that the court might issue directions to either strengthen the dam or appoint an expert body to evaluate its condition.
However, Justice Chandran pointed out that the petitioner must clearly outline the issues with the existing dam, given the involvement of two states.
“But you have to explain what exactly is the problem because if another dam is built then Tamil Nadu water…?”
Giri reiterated that a new dam could be constructed and that only the Supreme Court could issue such a directive. Subsequently, the Court issued a notice regarding the matter.
The Mullaperiyar dam, originally built by the British, has been a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Kerala for many years. Kerala asserts that the dam is unsafe, while Tamil Nadu insists that it remains structurally sound.
Although the dam and its catchment area are located within Kerala, the water from its reservoir is vital for five districts in Tamil Nadu. In a 2014 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with Tamil Nadu, stating that the dam is safe but ordered that the water level in the reservoir should be maintained at 142 feet. A supervisory committee was then established to oversee the dam.
Tamil Nadu has consistently maintained that the dam is safe and has requested directions for its reinforcement. Following the Kerala floods in 2018, an interim order was issued to keep the water level at 139 feet during such events as a temporary measure.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government has consistently argued that the dam is unsafe and should be decommissioned.
The Mullaperiyar Dam dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu is a long-standing interstate issue, centered on safety concerns, water-sharing arrangements, and legal interpretations. Built in 1895, the dam has remained a source of tension due to its age and the potential danger it poses to nearby populations.
The matter has been reviewed several times by the Supreme Court of India. In 2006, the Court permitted Tamil Nadu to raise the dam’s water level to 152 feet after necessary reinforcements were made. However, Kerala enacted the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006, labeling the dam as unsafe.
The Supreme Court later struck down this act, stating it interfered with judicial authority and violated the principle of separation of powers.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Central Government and Tamil Nadu following a petition from a Kerala-based NGO seeking to decommission the Mullaperiyar Dam and construct a new one at the same location.
Previously, the Court had established a supervisory committee to monitor safety and maintenance concerns raised by Tamil Nadu.