CHENNAI: Accepting the request of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the Centre has put on hold the formation of an experts’ panel for preparing a Contingency Response Plan for Mullaiperiyar dam and downstream areas to cope with eventualities like earthquakes and floods till the Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court submits its report. “NDMA has deferred its decision till the Empowered Committee submits its report,” a government release said. The Chief Minister had, in her letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 20, expressed shock at the constitution of an experts team on December 12 by the National Disaster Management Authority headed by the PM.Jayalalithaa had said that since the matter was pending before the apex court and the Empowered Committee is looking into the safety aspects of the dam, the contingency plan was not warranted at this stage and that the Prime Minister should withdraw the move forthwith.The CM reiterated her view when she met Singh during his stay at Raj Bhavan here on December 25. She also submitted a 16-page memorandum and renewed her request to the PM to advice Kerala to honour the 2006 Supreme Court order for raising the storage level from 136 ft to 142 ft. She also requested the Prime Minister to tell the Kerala government not to venture upon the construction of a new dam, saying that the retrofitted Mullaiperiyar dam structure is safe.Jayalalithaa had also told PM that Kerala should be advised to co-operate with the Tamil Nadu government in carrying out the remaining strengthening works suggested by the Central Water Commission.
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