Mullaperiyar

The Mullaperiyar Dam is a gravity dam located in the Idukki district of Kerala, India. Completed in 1895, it impounds the Mullayar River, a tributary of the Periyar River. The dam was constructed by the British for the sole purpose of diverting water to the arid regions of Tamil Nadu for irrigation purposes. This arrangement has been a source of ongoing dispute between the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu for decades.

Kerala argues that the dam is old and structurally unsound, posing a risk to the lives and property of its residents. They advocate for the decommissioning of the existing dam and the construction of a new one. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, relies heavily on the water from the Mullaperiyar for its agricultural needs and opposes any move that would reduce the water level or quantity. The legal and political battles over the dam have involved various court cases and negotiations, with the Supreme Court of India intervening multiple times to find a resolution. The dispute centers on water sharing, dam safety, and the original lease agreement under which the dam was built. International experts and committees have been involved in assessing the dam's condition and proposing solutions. The situation remains a complex and sensitive issue affecting the relations between the two southern Indian states.