SC informed of Kerala NoC to tree-felling, court asks Centre to verify

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday (July 31, 2025) informed the Supreme Court that Kerala has granted a no-objection certificate for the felling of trees near the 125-year-old Mullaperiyar dam, a contentious structure between the two neighbouring States for decades.

A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant asked the Centre to verify the information and consider providing the necessary environmental clearance in the next four weeks for cutting the trees.

“The environmental clearance from the Union government is still awaited. Mr Gupta [senior advocate Jaideep Gupta appearing for Kerala] informs the State government has already accorded necessary permission. In view of this, Union of India may verify, and after ascertaining that the necessary permission had been given by the state, let the requisite steps for granting environmental clearance be taken,” the Bench noted.

The court also considered a supervisory committee report and asked Tamil Nadu to consider the panel’s study, after which Kerala may accord permission for grouting work.

The court said repair work may be carried out after the monsoon season in September or October.

In the previous hearing on May 19, the apex court had directed the two States and the Centre to facilitate talks to address and resolve long-contentious issues like cutting of trees blocking access to the dam, transportation of material to repair the approach roads, and grouting of the main super-structure of the dam.