Current Affairs

Mullaperiyar Dam Technical Safety Study Demand by Kerala

Source:The Hindu ↗

આ શા માટે મહત્વનું છે

This article is crucial for UPSC GS Paper II (Inter-state relations, judicial oversight, federal governance) and GS Paper III (Disaster management, safety of critical infrastructure). It illustrates the friction points between neighboring states regarding aging public assets and environmental safety.

સારાંશ

The Kerala government has urged a detailed technical and structural safety study of the Mullaperiyar Dam before the safety panel, reviving longstanding debates regarding inter-state water disputes, safety risks of aging infrastructure, and cooperative federalism between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

મુખ્ય મુદ્દા

  • Kerala has demanded a comprehensive technical study on the structural safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam before the expert panel.
  • The dispute involves Kerala's safety concerns over the century-old dam situated in its territory but controlled and operated by Tamil Nadu.
  • The issue highlights broader debates surrounding inter-state water infrastructure, dam safety legislation, and disaster management governance in India.

મહત્વપૂર્ણ શબ્દો

Dam Safety Act

India's legislation providing a uniform legal and institutional framework for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified large dams to prevent failures.

UPSC context

Relevant for GS Paper III (Disaster Management, Infrastructure Governance, and Statutory Frameworks). Tests understanding of national laws regulating critical assets.

Source
Dam Safety Panel

An independent expert committee constituted to conduct comprehensive safety evaluations of aging water infrastructure, including hydrological, seismic, and structural audits.

UPSC context

Important for GS Paper II/III (Institutional mechanisms for dispute resolution, technical governance, and disaster prevention).

Source
Supreme Court

The apex judicial body in India that adjudicates original disputes between states and hears petitions concerning public safety, environmental protection, and federal governance.

UPSC context

Essential for GS Paper II (Indian Constitution, Judiciary, and Inter-State Dispute Adjudication). Tests knowledge of constitutional remedies and judicial oversight.

Source

પ્રિલિમ્સ ટ્રેપ

The Mullaperiyar Dam is owned, operated, and located entirely within the territory of Tamil Nadu.

While Tamil Nadu operates and controls the dam and water, the Mullaperiyar Dam is geographically located within the State of Kerala, not Tamil Nadu.

સંલગ્ન સ્થિર ખ્યાલો

Polity Governance and Legislation

What are the key institutional bodies constituted under the Dam Safety Act, 2021?

  • NCDS (National Committee):: Apex national body headed by the Chairman, Central Water Commission, to formulate policies and resolve safety disputes.
  • NDSA (National Authority):: Regulatory body implementing policies, resolving state disputes, and maintaining national database of specified dams.
  • SCDS & SDSO:: State-level bodies ensuring surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams within each state.

આંતર-વિષય પેટર્ન

  • Colonial Treaties & Inter-State Riparian Rights

    The 1886 lease agreement links colonial-era legal instruments with modern federal resource governance, mirroring debates over post-independence riparian rights and princely state treaties.

  • Dam Safety Act + Disaster Management Framework

    Mullaperiyar sits in a seismically sensitive region of the Western Ghats, testing the convergence of disaster management protocols with federal water control.

Expect a statement-based question combining the Dam Safety Act institutional framework (NDSA/SCDS) with constitutional provisions on inter-state rivers.

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