Sub-Committee inspects Mullaperiyar dam; expresses satisfaction over stability and storage level

Supreme Court-appointed subcommittee members inspecting the Mullaiperiyar dam near Thekkady in Kerala on May 15, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangement Expressing satisfaction over the safety and storage level after inspecting the Mullaperiyar reservoir, the members of the sub-committee comprising the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) inspected the functioning of the dam on Friday.The team headed by southern region director R. Giridhar of the NDSA and officials from the Water Resources Department from Tamil Nadu and Kerala visited the dam. “This is a routine check of all the parameters,” an officer from the Tamil Nadu government side told reporters.The officers physically inspected all 13 shutters, and the seepage level was satisfactory. At 111.50 feet storage in the dam on Friday, the parameters were functioning effectively, and it was very stable, officials said and added that they also inspected Chitranai and a few catchment areas of Mullaiperiyar dam, including Mullaikodi.Tamil Nadu Superintending Engineer (PWD) Sam Irwin, Executive Engineer Selvam and from the Kerala government, Superintending Engineer Koshi and Levins Babu accompanied Mr Giridhar.The Mullaikodi catchment area centre was being visited after almost a decade by the Tamil Nadu officers on Thursday, who said that the infrastructural facilities were satisfactory.A senior officer said that in 2014, when Tamil Nadu officials expressed their desire to visit Mullaikodi, the Kerala forest department officials denied permission and they had to return. In the 1980s, the rain gauge stations were established in Mullaikodi and Thaanikodi, catchment areas of the Mullaiperiyar dam by the Tamil Nadu government after obtaining permission from the Kerala side. Since then, the officials have been able to record the rainfall with precision, they added. Published - May 15, 2026 08:47 pm IST