Tamil Nadu moves SC, wants CISF to guard Mullaperiyar

CHENNAI: Alleging that the Kerala government was permitting unauthorised entry of people to Mullaperiyar dam, Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court to reiterate its demand for deployment of “strong CISF/CRPF force” to protect the dam, in the interests of both the states.
In its rejoinder affidavit filed in the court, the state contended that the need for CISF was not only because of IB reports on security threats, but also due to inaction of police about restricting entry and about local police being a silent spectator.
The IB report, ‘Industrial Security Inspection Report on Mullaperiyar Dam and Periyar Hydro Electric Project of September, 2014’, recommended replacement of Kerala personnel with CISF/CRPF to guard the dam, to emphasise the need for precautionary measures.
The petition alleged that Kerala continued to carry a misconceived perception that the dam was structurally unsafe, despite the Supreme Court finding the dam hydrologically, structurally and seismically safe.
“Kerala states that it is not opposed to safety measures, but on the other hand, it has not restored the electricity connection to the dam, which was disrupted in 2000.”
Currently, the generators are used to provide power supply to the dam and its appurtenant structures.