SC asks Centre about scope of Authority beneath Dam Safety Act 2021

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme courtroom on Thursday requested the Central authorities to file particulars explaining the institution and scope of authority of the National Dam Safety Authority beneath the Dam Safety Act, 2021. 

This, after the counsel representing the Central water fee, knowledgeable concerning the Dam Safety Act, suggesting its helpfulness in fixing the longstanding dispute between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam.

The courtroom was knowledgeable that the Act supplies for surveillance, inspection, operation and upkeep of the required dam for prevention of dam failure associated disasters and to supply for an institutional mechanism to make sure their secure functioning and for issues related to it.

The apex courtroom was listening to a number of pleas over security considerations concerning the 126-year-old dam which has been a longstanding dispute between the 2 states. The Mullaperiyar dam was inbuilt 1895 on the Periyar river in Kerala’s Idukki district.

“Dam safety act 2021 under this scheme the authority has been notified. This might solve the issue. This mandate will take care of larger issues. The National Dam Safety Authority would be responsible for this dam. This act came into force on 30 December 2021. A temporary structure has been put in place. The composition will include the chairman, Central Water Commission—ex-officio Chairperson, – ex officio members, three specialists in dam safety and some other members. Section 8 and section 9 of the Act deal with the establishment and functions of the authority,” extra solicitor basic Aishwarya Bhati stated.

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“It seems that an authority is there. We would need more details regarding the authority. File a note and let it come on record.  We want the timeline and plan to be explained. Regulations will be framed by the authority and for that authority needs to be constituted first.” A bench comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice CT Ravikumar stated.

The matter would now be heard subsequent week.

On March 24, the highest courtroom had urged to the 2 states that points relating to the structural security of the 126-year-old Dam could be left to be handled by the supervisory committee which could be strengthened. The prime courtroom had noticed that the difficulty raised by Kerala, which has stated that the method for establishing a brand new dam within the downstream reaches of the prevailing dam ought to begin, could be debated, mentioned and resolved by the supervisory committee which may make its suggestion on this.