KOCHI: Responding to a request by the state government, the Indian Navy on Monday filed its official reply on the necessary steps that it can take in case the Mullaperiyar dam bursts.According to highly placed sources, the Navy said it would be able to provide medical help along with other essential disaster support equipment in case of a dam break.A communication from the Southern Naval Command, on behalf of the Indian Navy, was given to Additional Solicitor General P Parameswaran Nair on Monday in this regard. The Navy was asked for a response based on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed before the High Court regarding the safety of the people in connection with the Mullaperiyar issue.In the response, the Navy said it would be able to provide medical help, aviation assets, boats and other watercraft to deal with an emergency situation, sources said. The communication from the Navy further said that further action can be taken on the basis of instructions from the Headquarters (Integrated Defence). In case of a disaster, directions issued from the National Disaster Management Authority would be followed. The Navy can also coordinate the required efforts based on the directions issued, according to the communication.The headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (Operations Branch) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already been assigned with the task of coordinating response to disasters at national and International levels. When asked, Parameswaran Nair confirmed that a communication from the Navy has been received.However, he refused to comment on its content before filing it.The state government had earlier submitted before the Kerala High Court that it had sought assistance from the Navy and the Territorial Army to deal with any emergency situation that may arise in case of a dam break. More than 10 PILs were filed before the High Court seeking the court’s intervention on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.
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