Editor's Pick: One dam, two States, and three feet of water

The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Supervisory Committee that oversees the Mullaperiyar dam to fix the maximum water level in the reservoir at the earliest. This order comes amid torrential rains in Kerala that threaten to create an unmanageable situation if the dam has to be opened at short notice. The Supreme Court's order is an attempt to avoid the situation that arose in 2018, when the release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam managed by Tamil Nadu and downstream dams such as Idukki managed by Kerala in quick succession worsened the flood situation in the areas further downstream in Kerala. In Supreme Court yesterday, Kerala argued for the water level to be held at 139 feet -- the level ordered by the Supreme Court during the 2018 flood. Tamil Nadu argued that the situation is not that dire and that the water level that was at 137.2 feet on Monday morning could be allowed to rise to maximum allowed level of 142 feet. The water level at the Mullaperiyar dam is an emotive issue in both States. The dam located in Kerala in the upper reaches of the Periyar River is managed by Tamil Nadu as per a deal in place since 1886. The higher the water level in its reservoir, the better it is for Tamil Nadu as it meets the irrigation and drinking water needs of its southern districts. However, ever since the safety of the dam was called into question in the 1970s, Kerala is keen on keeping the water level low, leading to a legal fight between the two States. The Supreme Court's orders on the issue in 2006 and 2014 set the level at 142 feet, 10 feet below the full reservoir level. Now, with unseasonal rains and landslips becoming frequent in Kerala, the water level in the Mullaperiyar comes into focus regularly. While it is only one of the points of concern during heavy rains, the historical, emotive, and political aspects of the issue make it the top story of the day. 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[Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( One dam, two States, and three feet of water [One dam, two States, and three feet of water] The [Supreme Court of India has ordered the Supervisory Committee]( that oversees the Mullaperiyar dam to fix the maximum water level in the reservoir at the earliest. This order comes amid [torrential rains in Kerala]( threaten to create an unmanageable situation if the dam has to be opened at short notice. The Supreme Court's order is an attempt to avoid the situation that arose in 2018, when the release of water from the Mullaperiyar dam managed by Tamil Nadu and downstream dams such as Idukki managed by Kerala in quick succession worsened the flood situation in the areas further downstream in Kerala.  In Supreme Court yesterday, Kerala argued for the water level to be held at 139 feet -- the level ordered by the Supreme Court during the 2018 flood. Tamil Nadu argued that the situation is not that dire and that the water level that was at 137.2 feet on Monday morning could be allowed to rise to maximum allowed level of 142 feet. The water level at the [Mullaperiyar dam is an emotive issue in both States](. The dam located in Kerala in the upper reaches of the Periyar River is managed by Tamil Nadu as per a deal in place since 1886. The higher the water level in its reservoir, the better it is for Tamil Nadu as it meets the irrigation and drinking water needs of its southern districts. However, ever since the safety of the dam was called into question in the 1970s, Kerala is keen on keeping the water level low, leading to a legal fight between the two States. The Supreme Court's orders on the issue in 2006 and 2014 set the level at 142 feet, 10 feet below the full reservoir level. Now, with unseasonal rains and landslips becoming frequent in Kerala, the water level in the Mullaperiyar comes into focus regularly. While it is only one of the points of concern during heavy rains, the historical, emotive, and political aspects of the issue make it the top story of the day. The Hindu's Editorials [Arrow][Mixed messaging: On Amit Shah's three-day visit to J&K]( [Arrow][End the impasse: On prolonged impasse over three farm laws]( [underlineimg] Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. [Click here]( Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz Pakistan cricket team registered their first win against India, after how many losses in ICC World Cup tournaments? a. 11 b. 12 c. 13 d. 14 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. Today's Best Reads [[The Perils of an Unresolved Boundary] The Perils of an Unresolved Boundary]( [[Filming in M.P.? Get script approval first] Filming in M.P.? 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