Chennai, 05 August (H.S.): Tamil Nadu’s announcement that it will pursue measures to raise the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam has triggered fresh concern in Kerala, where the safety of the century-old structure has remained a contentious issue for decades.

Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson, while presenting the maiden Budget of the C. Joseph Vijay-led government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, said the State would take steps to increase the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir in accordance with existing agreements, tribunal decisions and judicial directions.

The Budget also reiterated Tamil Nadu’s resolve to secure its rightful share of Cauvery water and safeguard the State’s interests in all inter-State river water disputes.

Wilson said increasing the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir was necessary to strengthen Tamil Nadu’s long-term water security and protect the interests of farmers dependent on water from the project.

The announcement is likely to revive the long-running dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the operation and safety of the Mullaperiyar dam. While Tamil Nadu has consistently sought maximum utilisation of water from the reservoir for irrigation and drinking water requirements, Kerala has raised concerns over the structural safety of the ageing dam and has advocated the construction of a new structure.

The Supreme Court had earlier permitted Tamil Nadu to maintain the reservoir level at up to 142 feet, a decision that has remained a major point of contention between the two neighbouring States.

Kerala has repeatedly voiced concerns over raising the reservoir level, citing the safety of people living downstream in the event of a structural failure.

The latest Budget announcement signals that the Vijay government intends to actively pursue Tamil Nadu’s position on Mullaperiyar, potentially bringing the sensitive inter-State water dispute back into sharp political and legal focus.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman