Idukki: Amid reports that Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay had announced the raising of the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 feet in the neighbouring state’s budget, official records dispute these claims.A review of the official Tamil Nadu budget speech and reports published by leading Tamil media has found no reference to any announcement on raising the Mullaperiyar dam’s water level. Journalists in Tamil Nadu have also stated that no such proposal was mentioned during the budget presentation, which largely focused on schemes and allocations related to Cauvery River.Observers point out that any major announcement concerning the Mullaperiyar dam would have received extensive coverage in Tamil Nadu. The absence of any such reports has raised questions over the authenticity of the claim circulated in Kerala.While Tamil Nadu has consistently maintained its long-standing demand to raise the dam’s water level to 152 feet, the current legally permitted storage level remains 142 feet. Legal experts note that the water level cannot be increased through a budget announcement alone and that any revision would require approval through the prescribed legal and judicial processes.The viral claim prompted widespread discussion and protests on social media in Kerala.