Mettur opening after getting enough storage, says CM

Responding to a query on Dhinakaran’s claim of an audio proof for wooing AMMK men with money and contracts, the Chief Minister said, “He used to keep reeling out lies. First, he claimed of having sleeper cells in the AIADMK. Where are they? They all have joined us. And all those who joined AMMK are returning in troves to their mother party. Even the three legislators, who left us have come back and are functioning well. The AIADMK has emerged as a powerful party.” 

On release of water from Mettur dam for samba cultivation, Palaniswami said that uninterrupted water supply can be ensured only if the dam storage level reaches 90 feet. 

“Two years ago, crops raised in two lakh acres got dried up. Then, we pleaded with Karnataka to release three TMC of water to save the crops, but they refused. For two years, Tamil Nadu faced a similar fate. So, Mettur dam will be opened for delta irrigation once it receives adequate water,” he said.

Moreover, the Chief Minister also expressed hope that heavy rains in Kerala and Kodagu may help Tamil Nadu get its due share of water. “When Karnataka isn’t giving even the sanctioned 177.25 TMC of water, how could we ask for more? he said, to a query on asking more water from Karnataka.

On the proposed Chennai-Salem expressway project, the Chief Minister said that around 70 farmers have expressed their willingness to give away their land.

“They wanted to take their lands and give them employment. Only a few are opposed to it. The expressway project is not for Salem alone, but it runs through Namakkal, Karur, Madurai and reaches Kerala. This is one of the most important projects to be executed by the Centre.  However, the state government doesn’t want to take the land by force or by hurting the feelings of anyone,”he said.

Responding to a query on DMK leader MK Stalin claiming that AIADMK cadre are coming to DMK, the Chief Minister said that Stalin’s dream will never come true.

“They (DMK) thought of unseating AIADMK. But we have completed two years and had stepped into the third year. The AIADMK will form the government in 2021 too,” he said. The Chief Minister also announced that a new Government Law College will be opened in Salem thisyear itself.