Chennai, Tuesday, January 24, 2012: Raising doubts over the inspection of Mullaperiyar dam by two technical members of the Supreme Court Empowered Committee last month, Kerala Fisheries Minister K Babu today maintained the 116-year-old structure is unsafe.

“The two members (C D Thatte and D K Mehta) are against the interests of Kerala and whatever the report they furnish to the Empowered Committee will be biased.

We will follow the decision taken by the Supreme Court (on this issue)”, Babu told reporters here. Thatte and Mehta are members of the Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court, headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand.

Experts from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala are currently engaged in inspection of the dam. Citing safety concerns, Kerala is insisting on building a new dam, a stand opposed by Tamil Nadu, which controls the existing reservoir that irrigates five southern districts in the state, saying it is as safe as a new one.

“Our position is crystal clear. There is no doubt about Kerala giving water to Tamil Nadu”, he said. Asked what was the need for a new dam, Babu said, “the dam is very old and it was built with old technology.Nobody is sure how long the dam will survive and people are afraid”.

Babu, who was here to announce the sixth edition of “India International Aqua Show 2012″, said the dam row would not affect ties between the two states.