Mullaperiyar Dam Issue

Constitutional Provisions related to Interstate- water dispute 

• Article 262 of the Constitution deals with the adjudication of water disputes. The provisions in this regard are:
  • Article 262 (1) Parliament may, by law, provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
  • Article 262 (2) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, Parliament may, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as is referred to in clause (1).

Periyar River

• It rises in the Western Ghats near the border with Tamil Nadu state and flows north a short distance to Periyar Lake.
• The river continues northwest, descending out of the mountains and onto the coastal plain, and turns west before emptying into the Arabian Sea.
• It is the longest river in the state of Kerala.
• It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. 

Benefits of Construction of Dams

• Flood control: Water bodies like dams decrease or eliminate the flood effects. 
• Land improvement is the extra benefit that will occur after an increase in soil productivity because of drainage and land improvement precautions. 
• Potable Water: Dams supply drinking water and domestic water to address water scarcity. 
• Irrigation: Dams benefit the dry and unirrigated regions. 
• Energy: Dams provide energy benefits and make the project more economical with additional value.
• Transportation benefits: They will occur in case there is waterway transportation in the project.

Environmental Impacts of Dams

• Destruction of Nature: The water regime may change as a result of the destruction of nature, unexpected floods may occur and consequently vegetation and natural structures in the riverbanks can be damaged.
• Affects Fauna: Normal passing ways of territorial animals are hindered since the dam works as a barrier. The fish can be damaged while passing through the floodgates, turbines and pumps of the high bodied dams. 
• Rehabilitation: Dams affect the social, cultural and economical structure of the region considerably. Especially forcing people, whose settlement areas and lands remain underwater to migrate, affect their psychology negatively.
• Loss of Aesthetic Beauty: The geological and topographical places that are rare with their exceptional beauties, disappear after lying under the reservoir. 
• Chances of Earthquakes: Some increase in earthquakes may occur because of the filling of big dam reservoirs.

Way Forward 

• A dam can serve the purpose of substantially augmenting the needs of a water-stressed city but care should be taken to fulfil environmental compliances and proper environmental impact assessment.
• At the same time, the tenets of Cooperative federalism need to be preserved by preventing the possibility of any inter-state disputes.