Central Government Removes Kerala Representative from Mullaperyar Dam Safety Committee New Delhi: The central government has unilaterally removed Kerala's designated expert from the expert committee formed to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection of the Mullaperyar dam. The committee, established in January 2026 as per Supreme Court directives, was initially set to include T.K. Shivaran, a former chief engineer of the Central Water Commission. However, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) replaced him with Prof. M.L. Sharma, head of the International Center of Excellence for Dams at IIT Roorkee, citing personal reasons preventing Shivaran's availability. The Supreme Court's 2022 order mandated a safety review of the century-old dam, prompting the formation of the committee in November 2025. Kerala had recommended Shivaran for the role, and his name was included in the January 6 directive. The committee was tasked with inspecting the dam and surrounding areas, submitting a report within four months. However, no progress has been made, with the central government allegedly acting under pressure from Tamil Nadu. Kerala's state government claims it was unaware of the replacement, with officials stating the decision was made without consultation. The committee's chairperson, former CMC director B Lalraj Joshi, remains unchanged. The delay in the inspection has raised concerns in Kerala, where safety fears persist despite the national policy requiring safety checks every 10 years. The dispute highlights tensions between states and the central government over dam management. Tamil Nadu's intervention is seen as a key factor in the replacement, though officials have not confirmed this.#kerala #central_government #supreme_court #mullaperyar_dam #national_dam_safety_authority
