CHENNAI: Pointing out that even during the past DMK regimes, Mettur dam could not be opened for irrigation on June 12, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday underscored the fact that despite less storage, the Kuruvai package would ensure cultivation in 3.15 lakh acres - the extent of cultivation which would have taken place if the dam is opened on June 12.
Indicating that the demand for opening the Mettur dam on June 12 by DMK, Congress and IUML was unfair at the present situation since the storage at Mettur dam was insufficient, the Chief Minister said the dam could not be opened in time for many years even during the previous DMK regimes.
“The dam can be opened only if it has 90 feet of water. If it is opened when there is less storage, water cannot be supplied to crops till the completion of the season and ultimately, crops will wither and farmers will face losses. Though the government wants to open the dam in time, due to monsoon failure, the present storage is also insufficient,” he explained.
He said when the storage was sufficient, Mettur dam was opened in time. In 2001, the dam was opened on June 12 while in 2011, water was released on June 6 itself, ahead of schedule.
Pointing out that in many years the dam had been opened after the scheduled date, Palaniswami said a perusal of the 83-year history of the dam would prove this.
While in 10 years, the dam was opened ahead of June 12, it was opened on time only for 16 years. While the dam was opened after June 12 in 17 years, it was opened in July in 25 years. For 10 years, the dam was opened in August and for five years, the dam was opened after August. “Irrespective of the party in power, the dam can be opened only if there is sufficient water,” he added.
Earlier, after the Chief Minister made a statement on the Kuruvai package, Leader of Opposition, MK Stalin led his party MLAs in a walkout protesting the government’s decision not to open dam on June 12. Congress and IUML legislators followed suit.
A touch of history
The CM said that when the storage was sufficient, Mettur dam was opened in time. In 2001, the dam was opened on June 12 while in 2011, water was released on June 6 itself, ahead of schedule. He pointed out that in the past many years the dam had been opened after the scheduled date