John Brittas Opposes Unilateral Removal of Keralam's Representative From Mullaperiyar Panel

New Delhi: Dr. John Brittas MP has written to Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil expressing his profound concern and strong objection to the unilateral removal of Keralam's representative, Shri T.K. Sivarajan, former Chief Engineer of the Central Water Commission, from the Independent Expert Committee constituted by the National Dam Safety Authority for carrying out the Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation of the Mullaperiyar Dam, without any prior consultation with the State.

In his letter, he pointed out that the decision had been taken without any prior consultation with the Government of Keralam and had effectively deprived the State of its sole representation in an expert body entrusted with examining the safety of the more than a century-old dam situated within Keralam. He stated that the structural integrity of the Mullaperiyar Dam bore directly upon the lives, livelihoods and security of millions of people residing downstream.

Emphasising that the Mullaperiyar issue transcends the realm of an inter-State water-sharing dispute, he pointed out that it is, above all, a matter of public safety and human security. He observed that any institutional mechanism tasked with evaluating the safety of the dam must command the confidence of all stakeholders and that excluding Keralam or diminishing its voice in such a mechanism would undermine the principles of fairness, transparency and cooperative federalism.

Dr. Brittas expressed serious concern over the manner in which Shri T.K. Sivarajan had been removed and another member from another State inducted in his place without prior consultation with Keralam. He stated that Keralam, which hosts the dam and whose people would be the first and principal victims of any adverse eventuality, cannot be reduced to the status of a mere spectator and informed post facto of decisions already taken. Intimation after the event, he stated, cannot be regarded as consultation in any meaningful sense, nor can the communication of a fait accompli substitute the obligation to evolve consensus in matters affecting the safety and security of millions of citizens.

The MP noted that the unilateral removal of Keralam's sole representative from the Committee runs contrary to the spirit of cooperative federalism underpinning the constitutional framework and risks eroding public confidence in the credibility, impartiality and transparency of the entire exercise. Any attempt, whether deliberate or otherwise, to render Keralam voiceless in institutions entrusted with evaluating the safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam would be wholly unacceptable and contrary to the letter and spirit of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and the principles of natural justice.

Dr. Brittas urged the Union Minister to intervene personally to revisit the decision forthwith and to ensure that no alteration in the composition of committees or expert bodies dealing with the safety of the Mullaperiyar Dam is undertaken without prior consultation with, and due regard for the views of, the Government of Keralam. He also called for restoring adequate and effective representation to Keralam in the Independent Expert Committee.

Stressing the paramount importance of maintaining public confidence in the dam safety architecture, Dr. John Brittas expressed the hope that the Ministry would act with utmost urgency and uphold the principles of cooperative federalism, transparency and equitable representation.