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Facing A Water Crisis, Tamil Nadu And Kerala Set To Talk Water Sharing On 28 January
Swarajya Staff
Jan 26, 2017, 08:49 PM | Updated 08:49 PM IST
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As the threat of a water crisis looms over Tamil Nadu and Kerala, both governments are set to hold talks in Thiruvanathapuram on 28 January to solve the crisis. Senior officials in charge of irrigation, municipal administration and energy from both states will participate in the meet. There has been a drop in drinking water supply to both states due to the failure of the southwest and northeast monsoons.
This meeting materialised after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam lodged a strong objection to the construction of check dams by Kerala across the river Bhavani. The Chief Minister asked the Prime Minister to tell Kerala to stop construction without delay. The Chief Minister said in a letter,
Kerala Government may be advised not to take up any projects or works without obtaining the prior concurrence of the Tamil Nadu Government until the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery water regulation committee come into full force and judicial references are finally settled.
Tamil Nadu wishes to pump water from Siruvani dam, which currently has ‘dead storage’, to meet the requirements of Coimbatore. Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage board hopes that the Kerala government will agree to their requirement. The Kerala Government, for the moment, has requested Tamil Nadu to increase its quantum of supply from Aliyar dam under the interstate Parambikulam Aliyar Project. The supply could help meet the water requirements of Palakkad district.
Tamil Nadu currently releases 100 cusecs of water a day through the Manakkadavu dam, but Kerala is demanding 200 cusecs a day.
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