In Brief
This judgment addresses governance and safety oversight of the Mullaperiyar Dam following enactment of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The Supreme Court reconstituted an existing Supervisory Committee to discharge functions of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) until a permanent NDSA is established. The strengthened Committee comprises representatives from the Central Water Commission, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and two technical experts from each State. The Committee is authorized to exercise all NDSA powers under Section 9 of the 2021 Act, with State Chief Secretaries held personally accountable for compliance with its directions. Non-compliance attracts contempt charges and statutory penalties under the 2021 Act. This interim arrangement ensures comprehensive dam safety oversight pending formal NDSA establishment.
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