Apex court dismisses Kerala plea on Mullaperiyar

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Kerala government’s plea to review its May 7 verdict holding as safe the 120-year-old Mullaperiyar dam and allowing Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet and ultimately to 152 feet after completion of strengthening measures on the dam. The apex court also rejected the plea for giving open court hearing and said there was no reason to interfere with the judgement of its five-judge Constitution Bench. “We see no reason to interfere with the order impugned. The review petition is, accordingly, dismissed,” said a bench.