Plea for decommissioning dam quashed

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to issue any direction on a plea seeking decommissioning of the 113-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, which allegedly poses a threat to the people of Kerala living in the dam8217;s vicinity. Unwilling to accept the argument that its existence was a threat to people of the area as the dam, constructed using obsolete technology, has outlived its life, the Bench 8212; headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat 8212; dismissed an application filed by an NGO, Jana Shakti.

Questioning the locus standi of the NGO in filing such an application, the Bench critically remarked, 8220;How is your petition maintainable? It is for the Government of Kerala to take a decision on the issue and it is not interested in the decommissioning.8221; The Bench, also comprising Justices C K Thakkar and D K Jain, was hearing the suit between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, for which the dam has been a bone of contention for decades.