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Context: The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) announced that Kerala's request for a new Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting an Environment Impact Assessment for a new dam at Mullaperiyar, Idukki district, had been cancelled.

Background

• The Mullaperiyar dam, located in Kerala's Idukki district, is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu. It was built over a century ago, and its safety and management have been subjects of dispute between the two states for decades.

Kerala's Proposal for a New Dam

• Kerala has proposed the construction of a new dam to replace the ageing Mullaperiyar structure. They argue that environmental conditions have changed, citing recent floods and modifications to the dam design.
• As part of the process, Kerala seeks new Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to gather updated data for a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ●It is a process used to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a proposed project or development. ●It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment, and present predictions and options to decision-makers. ●EIA in India is backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which contains provisions on EIA methodology and process. ●The process is cyclical and involves screening, scoping, collection of baseline data, impact prediction, mitigation measures and EIA report, public hearing, decision-making, monitoring and implementation of environmental management plan, assessment of alternatives, delineation of mitigation measures and EIA report, and risk assessment. ●Stakeholders in the EIA process include project proponents, environmental consultants, pollution control boards, the public, and the Impact Assessment Agency. ●The 2006 amendments to EIA notification decentralised environmental clearance projects into Category A and Category B, with Category A projects and Category B projects undergoing the complete EIA process.

Tamil Nadu's Opposition

• Tamil Nadu strongly opposes Kerala's proposal, primarily because it relies on the water released from the Mullaperiyar dam for irrigation in several of its districts.
• Tamil Nadu contends that the existing dam is safe and has been approved by various expert committees and the Supreme Court. They argue that any move towards a new dam violates previous court orders and could be considered contempt of court.

Legal Battles

• The disagreement between Kerala and Tamil Nadu has led to numerous legal battles, including challenges to the safety of the existing dam, jurisdictional disputes over water resources, and objections to each other's actions in various legal forums, including the Supreme Court.

Any significant development regarding the Mullaperiyar dam requires consensus between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Kerala needs Tamil Nadu's consent to proceed with a new dam, as directed by the Supreme Court. However, achieving consensus is challenging given the deeply entrenched positions and historical animosity between the two states.

Mullaperiyar Dam

• A masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala.
• Constructed between 1887 and 1895 by John Pennycuick.
• Located on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District.
• Operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu, despite its catchment area being entirely in Kerala.
• The dam's reservoir is located around the Periyar National Park.
• The dam is situated in a seismically active area with significant structural flaws and poses a risk to 3.5 million people if the dam fails.
• Currently, the water from the Periyar Lake is diverted to Forebay Dam near Kumily (Iraichalpalam) for power generation.
• The dam is a gravity dam made with concrete prepared from limestone and "surkhi" (burnt brick powder), faced with rubble.

Source:

THE HINDU

WIKIPEDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What are the major challenges faced by India in addressing the growing water crisis, particularly in regions plagued by overexploitation of groundwater resources, and what sustainable solutions can be implemented to mitigate these challenges?