NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said some directions may be needed to ensure the strengthening of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala following concerns over its safety and structural stability.

The top court also issued notices to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments as well as the NDMA on a PIL filed by the NGO Save Kerala Brigade seeking decommissioning of the old dam and construction of a new dam to replace the existing one.

“Some directions may be needed for strengthening the existing dam,” a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said and suggested that the matter be examined by an expert body to assess safety aspects and feasibility of constructing a new structure.

The Mullaperiyar dam, built in 1895 across the Periyar r

See Full Page