Kerala has renewed its demand for an independent and technically comprehensive safety assessment of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, citing inconsistencies in previous evaluations and the Supreme Court’s direction for a fresh review. The state’s Chief Engineer (Interstate Water) has submitted a detailed note to all six members of the independent supervisory committee appointed by the court to assess the dam’s safety.

The move follows the committee’s visit to Mullaperiyar in the first week of September. Kerala referred to the Supreme Court’s 2022 order assigning the committee responsibility for addressing pending safety-related issues and undertaking a fresh assessment. During discussions with state officials, Kerala noted that the dam’s last major safety evaluation was carried out in 2011 and raised several technical concerns.

Although committee chairman Balraj Joshi reportedly indicated that the state’s concerns would be examined, no further communication was received, according to a government official. With the deadline for the committee’s report approaching, Kerala has now submitted its concerns again.

In its latest representation, the state has cited technical findings to seek a fresh assessment, particularly in light of differences between studies conducted by IIT Roorkee and the Central Water Commission (CWC). Kerala has also highlighted variations between different safety assessments carried out by the CWC over the years.

The state has further reiterated its opposition to setting the maximum level of the reservoir’s rule curve at 142 feet. The rule curve specifies the permitted reservoir level at different periods of the year. Kerala has argued that the existing level-setting does not sufficiently account for the impact and lessons of the 2018 floods.