Notice to govt on plea seeking Orathupalayam dam closure

A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam before whom a public interest litigation moved in this regard came up for hearing ordered notice to the state and directed them to file a counter on January 7.

N Palanisamy, an agriculturist from Aravakurichi, on presenting the situation before the pollution of Noyyal river by dyeing units and thereafter, said considering improvement in quality of water several representations were made by various farmers to the state and the PWD authorities urging them to divert the LBP seepage water flowing in the Noyyal river downstream of Orathupalayam dam to Athupalayam dam, through Muthur barrage.

Moreover, due to recent continuous release of water in the LBP canal to raise wet crops, the seepage water received has also increased which can be used productively for agricultural and drinking purposes. To achieve this object the shutters on the Orathupalayam dam must be closed and the shutters of the feeder canal leading to Athupalayam dam at Muthur barrage must be kept open. But several representations to the authorities in this regard had failed to evoke any response.

Advocate CSK Satish appearing for the petitioner contended that this irrigation season water has been already released to the LBP ayacut lands from August 2018 and that if the seepage water from the said lands, which drained into the Noyyal river is not utilised by diverting it into the Athupalayam dam even during this season, the agricultural operations in Athupalayam ayacut lands cannot be carried out as well resulting in total loss and hardship to the farmers in the region.