Demand to include Pandiyar–Moyar water diversion project in election manifestos

The Pandiyar–Moyar h2o diversion project, projected to code chronic h2o scarcity successful 4 districts of the Kongu region, should beryllium included successful the predetermination manifestos of each governmental parties, according to a request raised by the Pandiyar–Moyar Inaippu Iyakkam.

In a property release, the movement’s coordinator A.N. Asaithambi said the project, which has been nether information for implicit 65 years, was important for ensuring drinking h2o supply, cultivation irrigation and livelihood information successful Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore and Karur districts.

The task proposes diverting surplus h2o from River Pandiyar successful the Nilgiris into River Moyar, and subsequently into the Bhavanisagar reservoir. At present, astir 20 tmc ft of h2o from the Pandiyar flows into the Arabian Sea each twelvemonth without being utilised, helium said.

The Bhavanisagar Dam, constructed successful 1955 with a retention capableness of 32.8 tmc ft, has been receiving little than 10 tmc ft of h2o annually for much than a decennary owed to recurring droughts. This has severely affected irrigation, groundwater recharge and drinking h2o proviso successful the Kongu region, too impacting farmers’ livelihoods.

The Bhavani stream strategy irrigates astir 4 lakh acres of farmland and supplies drinking h2o to astir 1 crore radical crossed respective taluks successful Erode, Tiruppur and Karur districts. However, the portion faces drought conditions erstwhile each 5 to 10 years, making a imperishable h2o solution imperative.

According to the movement, method studies person confirmed the feasibility of the project, which is estimated to outgo astir ₹1,900 crore. Discussions connected the connection person been held since 1960, including talks betwixt the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala successful 2004 and a associated gathering of officials successful September 2020. Stating that the task would payment agriculture, drinking h2o proviso and concern growth, the question urged each governmental parties to marque a wide committedness to instrumentality it by including the task successful their predetermination manifestos.