AIADMK party workers celebrate Supreme courts verdict on Mullaperiyar Dam issue.
After the Supreme Court ruling today on the Mullaperiyar dam, farmers in Madurai in Tamil Nadu celebrated the verdict by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.
The apex court ruled Kerala's amendment to the Irrigation and water Conservation Act in 2006 as unconstitutional as it nullified its order the same year allowing storage up to 142 feet.
In the Melur area, Suresh Kumar is overjoyed. Over the last 20 years the triple paddy crop on his ten acre field was reduced to a single crop for want of water as water level in the dam was restricted to 136 ft. With prospects of adequate water, he told NDTV, "Now we are confident that we would be able to raise all three crops fully after almost 35 years. We are happy".
The President of the Mullaperiyar Farmers Association, M Murugan says "Our drinking water requirements would be solved now and farmers would prosper now".
Though the dam is in Kerala, an agreement signed in 1886 between the British and the Travancore Maharaja gives Tamil Nadu rights over the waters for 999 years to use the water for drinking water requirement and irrigating around 2 lakh acres in the parched southern area.
Kerala was apprehensive about the 119 year old dam's safety even after Tamil Nadu strengthened it after seepage from the dam. It was concerned that the dam could wipe out a three million strong population if it breaks. A Supreme Court appointed committee had found it safe. However, the court today directed a three member committee to monitor the dam and ensure its safety regularly.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has dedicated this victory to the people of the state. DMK Chief Karunanidhi too expressed happiness.
This logical conclusion of sorts to the 35 year long struggle for water settles both safety and livelihood issues. The British Engineer late Mr Pennucuick who built the dam amidst tough challenges and financial difficulty wouldn't have imagined his well-intended act would turn this bitter. Mr Abbas a local leader in the Theni told NDTV "Now Pennycuick's soul would rest in peace".