Tamil Nadu has filed a complaint in the Supreme Court alleging that Kerala is blocking essential safety works at the Mullaperiyar Dam. The dispute centers on disagreements over increasing reservoir water levels to 142 feet, a move permitted by a 2014 court ruling. The ongoing standoff continues to delay critical strengthening operations required for the 131-year-old structure.
The long-standing conflict over the Mullaperiyar Dam has intensified, with the Tamil Nadu government filing a fresh status report in the Supreme Court. In this filing, Tamil Nadu has accused the Kerala government of maintaining an obstructionist attitude that is stalling necessary maintenance and safety projects at the reservoir. This latest legal action highlights the ongoing friction between the two states regarding the management of this 131-year-old masonry dam.
The core of the dispute lies in the implementation of a 2014 Supreme Court ruling. That judgment affirmed the structural safety of the dam and permitted Tamil Nadu to raise the reservoir water level to 142 feet. Tamil Nadu claims that Kerala is effectively preventing this by refusing to grant permissions for essential strengthening works, such as the reinforcement of the Baby Dam and grouting of the main structure.
Tamil Nadu’s report alleges that these delays are not just administrative but deliberate, with Kerala reportedly withholding approval for critical tasks, including the felling of trees near the site. These trees must be removed to allow heavy machinery to reach the area for strengthening operations. Without these works, Tamil Nadu argues, the reservoir's full potential for irrigation and water supply cannot be utilized, impacting agricultural planning in its districts.
Kerala, however, maintains a different stance, citing significant safety concerns. The state government has firmly rejected moves to raise the water level beyond current limits, emphasizing the risk to millions of people living downstream in the Idukki district. Kerala has repeatedly raised alarms about the dam’s integrity, particularly given the seismically active nature of the region.
Beyond the water levels, the dispute also involves broader data-sharing and emergency planning issues. Tamil Nadu’s report claims that Kerala has not yet established an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) based on agreed-upon hazard classifications. Furthermore, Tamil Nadu alleges that Kerala has failed to provide real-time rainfall and flood data, which is essential for forecasting water inflow into the catchment area. This lack of data, according to Tamil Nadu, hinders effective water management and flood preparedness.
In an earlier instance of friction, the two states clashed over road repairs. Kerala requested Tamil Nadu to deposit over ₹87 lakh to repair the approach road leading to the dam. While Tamil Nadu granted the administrative sanction for the funds in early 2026, it reports that Kerala has yet to begin the actual repair work.
The situation remains a complex deadlock. For stakeholders, the key monitorable will be the upcoming hearings in the Supreme Court. The court’s directions on the pending safety permissions and the implementation of the long-standing water-level ruling will determine the future of operations at the site. Observers will be watching to see if the judiciary mandates a fresh timeline for the strengthening works or if further mediation is required to resolve the conflicting positions on dam safety and resource allocation.