NEW DELHI: A central panel - Disaster Management sub-committee of the Mullaperiyar Dam - on Thursday asked Tamil Nadu to take steps to gradually bring down the water level in the dam to 139 feet from the present 142 feet.

The issue was discussed in a special meeting of the sub-committee on Thursday in view of the Supreme Court’s direction. The apex court had last week asked the authorities to explore the possibility of bringing down the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam “at least to 139 feet” so that people staying downstream the dam do not remain in constant fear.

Sources in the water resources ministry said that the matter was discussed in the meeting and representatives of Tamil Nadu were asked to work out the water release schedule by keeping their Kerala counterparts into the loop.

They said that the additional release of water, whatsoever, would begin only after putting in place adequate disaster management plan.

Though the dam is located in Kerala, it is being maintained and operated by the Tamil Nadu government with the help of a supervisory committee of experts.

A direction to Tamil Nadu to bring down the water level to 139 feet came on the day when the Kerala government submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court, blaming the neighbouring state for the current floods.

It blamed Tamil Nadu for sudden release of water from the dam that eventually led to floods in Kerala.

