Kerala’s Funding Offer for New Dam Meets Tamil Nadu’s Height Stance in Mullaperiyar Talks

Chennai – The Mullaperiyar controversy entered another round of negotiations on Thursday as Kerala announced it would cover the full expense of building a new dam at the disputed site. The offer, made by Kerala chief minister V.D. Satheesan at the Southern Regional Council’s 31st meeting, is intended to break a decades‑long stalemate.

Satheesan described the proposal as a significant concession, emphasizing that Kerala will fund the entire project while allowing Tamil Nadu to decide the dam’s exact placement. He argued that a new dam is crucial for ensuring the safety of residents in the lower reaches of the river.

Tamil Nadu, represented by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, held firm on its demand to raise the water level of the existing reservoir to 152 feet. Vijay reiterated that the current dam is structurally sound and that augmenting the water level would serve irrigation and power needs.

The divergent demands reflect the core of the dispute: Kerala’s focus on public‑safety concerns versus Tamil Nadu’s emphasis on water resource optimization. Despite numerous court rulings and central‑government interventions, the issue remains unresolved.

Kerala’s readiness to finance the new structure could remove the monetary obstacle that has hampered dialogue, yet the disagreement over the reservoir’s height suggests that technical and political consensus is still elusive.