Kerala Floods: SC directs Tamil Nadu to maintain water level in Mullaperiyar Dam at 139 ft

The Supreme Court on Friday directed Tamil Nadu to maintain the water level in Mullaperiyar Dam at 139 feet till August 31. The Apex court also asked Tamil Nadu and Kerala to cooperate and follow the panel’s direction on Mullaperiyar Dam.

The directions came a day after Kerala told the apex court that the devastating floods in Kerala were caused by the sudden and excess release of water from Mullaperiyar Dam by Tamil Nadu.

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Kerala has been facing the massive flooding since August 8. The worst floods in a century have caused the state a damage to the tune of nearly Rs 20,000 crore. So far, over 350 people have lost their lives and lakhs rendered homeless.

The Mullaperiyar Dam, located in Kerala but operated by Tamil Nadu under an 1886 pact between the British and the Maharaja of Travancore, has long been an issue of contention between the states.

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The Supreme Court’s directions also came after the disaster management sub-committee monitoring the water level of the dam, asked Tamil Nadu to keep the water level 2-3 feet below its maximum limit.