PW Minister's interview from Coimbatore
Public Works Minister Durai Murugan on Saturday regretted the lack of co-operation from Kerala in resolving water disputes.Kerala was yet to declare that it had completed the construction of the Edamalayar dam, though a team of experts had said that it was over, he told reporters here.Under its agreement with Kerala on the Parambikulam-Aliyar project, Tamil Nadu could construct the Anamalaiar dam after the Edamalayar dam was built. But, Kerala’s stand on all water disputes was the same, hampering Tamil Nadu’s efforts at resolving them.Mr. Duraimurugan said the Government would clear a Rs.41-crore project to strengthen the bunds and lay roads along a 31-km course of the Noyyal here. The estimates were being prepared.He also asked PWD officials to prepare estimates for the construction of a check dam across the river at Nandankarai. Siruthuli, a public initiative to conserve water sources, had said the dam would help to irrigate thousands of acres of farmland and recharge more than 50 wells. The implementation of the long-pending Avanashi-Athikadavu water scheme for the Avanashi region was also under the Government’s consideration, he said.
