Empowered Committee to hear arguments on Oct 31

KOCHI: The Empowered Committee on Mullaperiyar will consider the final arguments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the issue on October 31.  The Empowered panel under Justice A S Anand which met in New Delhi on Wednesday discussed the feasibility report submitted by Kerala on the new dam at Mullaperiyar. The Empowered Committee had earlier granted permission for grouting the dam, which Kerala has opposed pointing out that the committee cannot give permission to strengthen the dam.  Kerala has submitted a formal communication pointing out this issue. The matter came before the Empowered Committee which met on Wednesday. However, a final decision has not been taken on the issue, sources said.The empowered panel is yet to receive the technical reports from all agencies on the tests to be carried out at the dam. It has been pointed out that the technical committees have to speed up submission of reports before the committee.