As the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala plans large-scale desilting of dams and other waterbodies to enhance their carrying capacity and reduce flooding, one of the first such projects – the Chulliyar dam desilting project in Palakkad – has come under a cloud over allegations of irregularities in dredging and transportation of sediments, especially sand. The project, undertaken during the previous LDF government’s tenure, has also attracted allegations of environmental damage, multiple contract extensions, and possible financial irregularities. The Kerala High Court, meanwhile, has directed the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation (KIIDC) to issue transit passes for transporting desilted material already stacked on the dam premises. The interim order was issued on August 3 on a petition filed by the contractor after the KIIDC stopped issuing passes. The KIIDC told the court that it had no objection to transporting materials already desilted for which royalty had been paid, though the contract period had expired.