Mullaperiyar dam one of the safest, will survive another 1,000 years: former SC judge

Quoting an expert, Justice Thomas said the Mullaperiyar dam would survive another 1,000 years, if reinforcement works are carried out in a timely manner The Justice revealed he had also fallen into the propaganda that the dam would burst but was convinced about it's strength after reading an expert study report The more than a century-old dam remains a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu, which owns and operates it, and Kerala, where it is located

Justice KT Thomas, a former Supreme Court judge and Kerala's representative in the SC committee on the Mullaperiyar dam, has stated that reservoir remains one of the safest dams in the country.

Quoting an expert, the Justice said the Mullaperiyar dam would survive another 1,000 years, if reinforcement works are carried out in a timely manner.

Talking to reporters in Kottayam, Justice Thomas lauded the stand taken by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the view of the Supreme Court's Empowered Committee on the safety of the dam cannot be overlooked.

The Justice revealed he had also fallen into the propaganda that the dam would burst in the near future but was convinced about it's strength after reading an expert study report.

The more than a century-old dam remains a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu, which owns and operates it, and Kerala, where it is located. Kerala have repeatedly raised concerns over safety of the dam and wanted to build a new one. 

Justice Thomas also suggested that Kerala should initiate steps to get half of the electricity that Tamil Nadu generates from Mullaperiyar.

(with PTI inputs)