Won't be possible to open Mettur dam on June 12: Tamil Nadu CM

Salem: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Saturday that with insufficient storage at the Mettur reservoir, it would not be possible to open the dam and release water for Cauvery delta irrigation on June 12, the customary date set for the purpose for ‘kuruvai’ cultivation.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines after inaugurating the 43rd ‘Summer Festival and Flower Show’ at Yercaud hills near here, he, however, expressed the hope that the monsoon rains this year would be bountiful and “all our dams will be filled”.

On the Cauvery issue, Mr Palaniswami, who on the occasion laid the foundation stone for a Rs.25 lakh memorial arch to commemorate 70th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, said Tamil Nadu government was hopeful that the Supreme court’s ruling would be favourable to it. “There will be no need for us to call on anybody (for water),” he added.

Mr. Palaniswami, who also laid the corner stone for 29 new development works at the function, announced that the State government was preparing various schemes for providing basic amenities to tribal residential areas in 20 identified districts.

Speaking at the Yercaud function, he said, “totally 20 districts in Tamil Nadu are identified as having tribal population and special attention has been given for preparing schemes to provide basic amenities for them including road, electricity, drinking water, health and education. The Central government is also supporting with funds. Even without it, we are committed to provide all the required facilities for tribals.”

On the plea for issuing free ‘pattas’ for tribal families, he said, “we have received petitions from tribal villagers for free house site pattas. The eligible beneficiaries would be given pattas as per legal procedure.”

Mr. Palaniswami disclosed that steps were being taken to set up a ‘Yekalavya school’ in Yercaud to provide education for tribal students up to the Plus-2 level. It will be helpful for the students to pursue higher studies.

“Similar schools would also be established at Karumanthurai; two mini buses each would be operated for Karumanthurai area and Yercaud based on the demand from villagers,” he said.

Assuring more help for agriculture development, the Chief Minister also launched two development works completed at a cost of '4.50 crore.
State mininisters Dindigul Srinivasan, Vellamandi N Natarajan, and R Duraikannu, Salem collector Ms. Rohini Bhajibhakare and other officials took part in the function.