TTV slams state over water issues

In a statement, the RK Nagar MLA quoted the observations made by the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in which the court recollected the contributions made by British engineer John Pennycuick in conserving water and expressed displeasure over the status of present water management. There are also media reports and Niti Aayog reports exposing the unchecked encroachments along water bodies and depleting groundwater in Chennai. 

The government has done nothing to improve the situation and everyone knows how Chennai was taken for a ride when the private lorry tankers went on a strike, Dhinakaran said.

The situation with Vaigai river and its catchment area needs attention and the encroachments had to be cleared, TTV said. The AMMK leader also blamed the Edappadi K Palaniswami government for not able to protect the depleting groundwater of Chennai and seawater intrusion. The statement also noted that the Delta farmers in tail-end areas were deprived of Cauvery water. 

Despite Karnataka releasing surplus water from Cauvery, the state was not able to ensure the same in the tail-end areas. Mettur dam attained its full capacity on four occasions, but no efforts were taken to save water.