Chennai
“The State government which was not able to prevent Karnataka from constructing a dam on the south Pennar, resulted in the State losing the fight,” said president R Subash Naidu, Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Vellore district. “Karnataka was releasing only 6 tmc of the 10 tmc surplus water into this river till now for Tamil Nadu. Once the dam is built, that will be stopped,” he added and stated that the water in the river is not enough for even one crop.
Though Jayalalithaa had earmarked Rs 650 crore for this project, the process was not started as farmers did not believe in it, because government did not initiate any action on the project.
Sources revealed that following the Vellore district being trifurcated, various groups of farmers’ associations were agitated that they would now have to develop a strategy to demand this link in the three districts.
President K Raja, Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association, Vellore district, said, “The scheme was first mooted in 1945 by the British, but it was abandoned after India achieved Independence. After twenty years, the scheme was again recalled by officials.”
“Even Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami promised the scheme when he addressed the MGR centenary celebrations in Vellore last year,” Raja added.
But Subash Naidu differed saying, “We met the CM when he visited Vellore and he was talking about linking the Krishna – Godavari – Cauvery rivers, which is a central government project.”
Elaborating about the Palar-Pennar project, Naidu said, “The south Pennar enters Vellore district near Natrampalli and flows till Walajapet and Anaicut and diverts to other districts. The river linking project will get new life if it is politicised like the Cauvery river, but farmers need awareness to make it happen.”
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