The Supreme Court today asked Tamil Nadu and Kerala to maintain restraint on their statements on the Mullaperiyar dam row.

Urging for sanity and sensitiveness, the court lamented that they were adding fuel to the fire instead of dousing it.

A five-Judge Constitution Bench, headed by Justice D K Jain, asked Tamil Nadu to ensure that the water level in the dam does not exceed 136 feet but declined to entertain Kerala's plea for reducing the level to 120 feet.

The Bench also asked the Centre to clarify its position on Tamil Nadu's plea for deployment of Central Industrial Security Force, CISF, to protect the dam from possible vandalism.

Tamil Nadu government, on December 1, had moved the apex court accusing Kerala government of whipping up a “fear psychosis” on Mullaperiyar row and sought the court's direction to restrain the state from making any controversial statement on the issue.