The Supreme Court on July 4 gave 15 days for Kerala to respond to a contempt plea filed by Tamil Nadu on the construction of a “mega car parking” by Kerala in the water spread area of the Mullaperiyar dam.
A Bench, led by Justice S.A. Bobde, gave Kerala time to reply, while orally cautioning the State's officials to stay in line.
Tamil Nadu has contended that the construction was in violation of the top court’s order and aimed at preventing the restoration of the storage level of the reservoir to the original level of 152 ft.
Tamil Nadu had earlier submitted the project was located in the area leased to Tamil Nadu. The project, which involves various supplementary construction activities, would environmentally affect the catchment area, the water spread area of the dam and consequently the waters of the reservoir, used for drinking and irrigation purposes by the people of five districts of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu has been arguing that Kerala encroached into about 2.5 acres, and through this project, proposed to take over about 20 acres in the water spread area of the dam for parking tourist vehicles and construction of reception blocks, cafeteria, sewage treatment plant, eco-shops complex, toilets, dining block, office block, road work, and road work for battery operated vehicle, developing different thematic arboretums, landscaping, etc, intended for tourism and commercial activities.