Water trains from Jolarpet will bring 10MLD to city for 6 mths
CM Thanks Kerala For 2M-Litres Offer, Wants It Every Day
Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:22.06.2019
Facing huge administrative pressure due to a severe water crisis, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said his government would write to Kerala, requesting for drinking water supply of two million litres every day. The state would also bring 10 million litres of water every day from Jolarpet in Vellore to Chennai through rail wagons for about six months.
In an interaction with reporters at the secretariat, the chief minister blamed the crisis on monsoon failure and the drought-like situation, and lack of cooperation from neighbouring states. He said his government decided to accept Kerala’s offer of water. “But they assured only a one-time supply. I thank Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s gesture. But two million litres a day is insufficient as we supply 525MLD for Chennai. If they do it every day, it would benefit us,” Palaniswami said. His reaction came in the wake of reports that Tamil Nadu had spurned Kerala’s offer.
CM urges Kerala to increase storage of Mullaperiyar
Palaniswami requested his Kerala counterpart to increase storage of Mullaperiyar dam to 152ft, as per the Supreme Court directions. Slamming the Karnataka JD(S)-Congress government for its persistent efforts to build Mekedatu dam across river Cauvery River, Palaniswami urged the “Congress friends” to prevail upon their Karnataka counterparts to abide by the court orders. “Despite Cauvery authority’s order to release 9.19tmcft of water in June, Karnataka refuses to oblige. If Mekedatu is built, Tamil Nadu will not get a drop of water,” the CM said, recalling how the former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah declined his requests to release 2tmcft to meet drinking water needs, and refused to give him an audience. If Mekedatu was built and Cauvery authority dismantled, Tamil Nadu would turn into a desert, he warned.
Even Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh was not forthcoming, the CM said. The neighbour has supplied only two tmcft of water as against 12 tmcft in an interstate agreement. “They said they have only 4tmcft and water cannot be released if the storage is not 8tmcft,” said Palaniswami, who sanctioned additional ₹200 crore for state-wide water supply schemes on Friday, in addition to ₹710 crore already allotted. The government also sanctioned ₹65 crore for rail wagon supply from Vellore to Chennai. The CM and chief secretary had held periodical meetings with water managers and issued necessary instructions.
The chief minister said there were instances of many flat owners of an apartment booking for tankers online, depriving others their due. “While the rich could do so online and get from their land, the state’s priority is to supply to the poor and needy who cannot afford to pay… We have to maintain uniform supply for the next four months, as our next monsoon is only in November and December,” he said, indicating that his government would convene a meeting with tanker owners to give necessary instructions to collect uniform rates.
Despite Cauvery authority’s order to release 9.19tmcft of water in June, Karnataka refuses to oblige. If Mekedatu is built, TN will not get a drop of water
Edappadi K Palaniswami
CM Thanks Kerala For 2M-Litres Offer, Wants It Every Day
Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:22.06.2019
Facing huge administrative pressure due to a severe water crisis, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said his government would write to Kerala, requesting for drinking water supply of two million litres every day. The state would also bring 10 million litres of water every day from Jolarpet in Vellore to Chennai through rail wagons for about six months.
In an interaction with reporters at the secretariat, the chief minister blamed the crisis on monsoon failure and the drought-like situation, and lack of cooperation from neighbouring states. He said his government decided to accept Kerala’s offer of water. “But they assured only a one-time supply. I thank Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s gesture. But two million litres a day is insufficient as we supply 525MLD for Chennai. If they do it every day, it would benefit us,” Palaniswami said. His reaction came in the wake of reports that Tamil Nadu had spurned Kerala’s offer.
CM urges Kerala to increase storage of Mullaperiyar
Palaniswami requested his Kerala counterpart to increase storage of Mullaperiyar dam to 152ft, as per the Supreme Court directions. Slamming the Karnataka JD(S)-Congress government for its persistent efforts to build Mekedatu dam across river Cauvery River, Palaniswami urged the “Congress friends” to prevail upon their Karnataka counterparts to abide by the court orders. “Despite Cauvery authority’s order to release 9.19tmcft of water in June, Karnataka refuses to oblige. If Mekedatu is built, Tamil Nadu will not get a drop of water,” the CM said, recalling how the former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah declined his requests to release 2tmcft to meet drinking water needs, and refused to give him an audience. If Mekedatu was built and Cauvery authority dismantled, Tamil Nadu would turn into a desert, he warned.
Even Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh was not forthcoming, the CM said. The neighbour has supplied only two tmcft of water as against 12 tmcft in an interstate agreement. “They said they have only 4tmcft and water cannot be released if the storage is not 8tmcft,” said Palaniswami, who sanctioned additional ₹200 crore for state-wide water supply schemes on Friday, in addition to ₹710 crore already allotted. The government also sanctioned ₹65 crore for rail wagon supply from Vellore to Chennai. The CM and chief secretary had held periodical meetings with water managers and issued necessary instructions.
The chief minister said there were instances of many flat owners of an apartment booking for tankers online, depriving others their due. “While the rich could do so online and get from their land, the state’s priority is to supply to the poor and needy who cannot afford to pay… We have to maintain uniform supply for the next four months, as our next monsoon is only in November and December,” he said, indicating that his government would convene a meeting with tanker owners to give necessary instructions to collect uniform rates.
Despite Cauvery authority’s order to release 9.19tmcft of water in June, Karnataka refuses to oblige. If Mekedatu is built, TN will not get a drop of water
Edappadi K Palaniswami
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