In a favourable decision for Kerala, the water level at Mullaperiyar dam will soon be reduced by two or three feet, the Centre has informed the Supreme Court on Friday. Water will be released from Mullaperiyar dam only in phases, the Disaster Management team informed the Supreme Court. "The dam's safety is of utmost importance," the Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday.
The water level should also be monitored in real-time, said the Supreme Court on Friday.
The decision comes as Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu government to consider lowering the water level at Mullaperiyar dam to 139 feet from the current 142 feet. The Supreme Court also ordered the National Crisis Management Committee to meet on Friday over Mullaperiyar Dam storage and management. The committee was asked to file a report by 2 pm on Friday.
Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami had on Thursday expressed his unwillingness to act on the request of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to reduce water level of Mullaperiyar Dam. EPS stated that the SC had permitted the water level to be maintained at 142 feet.
The Supreme Court took up the case for hearing after a Kerala resident, Russel Joy, who filed an urgent petition in the matter.