Rs 565 cr new project to divert Mettur water to 100 lakes, says CM

“In the previous years, the surplus water from Mettur drained into sea and went waste. So efforts would be taken to ensure that not a single drop of water from the reservoir goes waste. The excess water will be diverted to fill 100 lakes,” he said in Salem on Sunday.  

With this, the farmers and public in Mettur, Omalur, Edappadi and Sangagiri Assembly constituencies will be benefited immensely out of this project, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the local body polls will be held soon. Responding to a query on Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam announcing in the Assembly over Tamil Nadu incurring a loss of up to Rs 30,000 crore through financial grants, Chief Minister Palaniswami said that Tamil Nadu will insist upon the Centre to release funds to improve the state’s financial situation.

“We have been fulfilling our requirements with better revenue collection. We are insisting the Centre to release our funds,” he said.

On the Dam Safety Bill issue, the Chief Minister said, once AIADMK MP’s stalled the move to pass the bill in the Parliament. “If proposed again, our MP’s will again opposeit,” he said.  

 “Many of the dams from Konakadavu and Mullai Periyar that gives water to Tamil Nadu are in Kerala. If they need to be protected, then suitable amendments should be brought to maintain them by ourselves. We will look into the aspects of the bill and if it comes favourable, then it would be accepted. If not, the state government will oppose it,” he said.

Commenting on the issue of building a dam at Rasimanal, Palaniswami said that the Supreme Court has already stayed against building the dam or drawing water. “Hence Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry should comply with the court norms,” he said. The Chief Minister also said that the AIADMK will continue to oppose privatisation of Salem Steel Plant.