Kerala flood

The rise in flood water in Kerala’s Periyar river and the opening of the sluice-gates of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir and Idamalayar, have severely affected the lives of people in the downstream areas.

During the SC hearing on Friday, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice DY Chandrachud said: “The situation caused by the floods prevailing in the State of Kerala requires to be addressed with focus, concentration and efficiency by all concerned, both at the national and State levels.”

“The decision taken with regard to bringing down of the water level shall be scrupulously obeyed by the State of Tamil Nadu,” the bench said.

Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, representing Tamil Nadu, said the state cannot store the water anywhere as all storage facilities were full.

Advocate Manoj V George, appearing for petitioner Russel Joy, said the management of the Mullaperiyar Dam should be entrusted to the NCMC as it is a multi-functional body having experts from various departments.

“Till the situation returns to normal, the management of the dam should be entrusted to NCMC, as the existing court-appointed committee has not functioned properly,” he claimed in his arguments.

The direction to consider reducing the water level up to 139 feet from the existing 142 feet had come in the backdrop of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan writing to his Tamil Nadu counterpart EK Palaniswami for the same, which Palaniswami had rebuffed in his reply.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced a ₹10 crore relief for flood relief operations in Kerala.

While ₹5 crore is being transferred from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to the Ker- ala Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, the remaining amount will be in the form of ready-to-eat food material and other supplies to be flown to Kerala with the help of the defence ministry.

Insurance regulator Irdai (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has also asked all insurance companies to set up special camps and make immediate payments against insurance claims.

Irdai has issued guidelines in the regard for both life and nonline insurance claims and asked them to report the progress.