SC stays Tribunal’s order on building Parking Lot at Mullai-Periyar Dam site

The Supreme Court of India has stayed the verdict of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in allowing the Govt. of Kerala to construct a huge Parking Lot at the site adjacent to the contentious Mullai-Periyar Dam along Tamil Nadu-Kerala border.

Kerala commenced work to construct a huge parking lot spread over 2 acres of land near the Dam site to which the NGT gave its ‘green signal’ on 15th November last year. Taking objection to this, the Govt. of Tamil Nadu preferred an appeal on 20th November with the Supreme Court challenging the Tribunal’s verdict in allowing Kerala to construct the Parking Lot.

When the case came up for interrogation at the Supreme Court yesterday, Govt. of Tamil Nadu’s counsel Rakesh Dwivedi argued on the State’s behalf, telling the apex Court that the proposed Parking Lot might cause huge harm to the environment prevailing near the Mullai-Periyar Dam. “It would also render the place inaccessible for small animals which are inhabitants of the locality,” he contended.

Accepting his argument, the apex Court stayed the verdict of the Tribunal in allowing the Govt. of Kerala from going ahead with the construction of the Parking Lot. It also directed the Govt. of Kerala and the Centre to file their written replies in this regard.