Mullaperiyar Dam: Periyar River, Inter-State Water Dispute and Dam Safety

Category: Geography → Water Resources → Inter-State Water Disputes

Why in News?

The Mullaperiyar Dam remained in the news in 2026 over dam safety, the composition of the Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation Committee and the long-running Kerala–Tamil Nadu dispute.

Key Facts

  • Located in Idukki district, Kerala.
  • Built across the Periyar River.
  • Construction: 1887–1895.
  • Type: Masonry gravity dam.
  • Built during the British period.
  • The dam is located in Kerala but is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu under the historical agreement.
  • Water is diverted from the west-flowing Periyar basin towards the east-flowing Vaigai basin in Tamil Nadu.

Important Legal Context

The dispute involves:

  • Dam safety
  • Water level
  • Federalism
  • Inter-state relations
  • 1886 agreement
  • Supreme Court judgments
  • Dam Safety Act, 2021

Key Pointers

  • River → Periyar
  • Location → Idukki, Kerala
  • Beneficiary state → Tamil Nadu
  • Type → Masonry gravity dam
  • Major issue → Kerala–Tamil Nadu inter-state water dispute