The Hindu          16.09.2014 

Protests against water plant near Athoor dam intensifies

Councillor wonders how permission was granted to sink borewell near dam

Protests over a private purified water plant functioning near Athoor Kamarajar dam, the drinking water source for Dindigul, Chinnalapatti and 17 villages, have been growing by the day.

Dindigul Corporation councillor R. Vijaya Kumar submitted a petition to Collector N. Venkatachalam on Monday, demanding closure of the plant. In his petition, the councillor stated that at a time when drinking water was being supplied once in 15 days to Dindigul Corporation areas, the plant had sunk a borewell near the outlet point of the dam. Drawing large quantities of water would ultimately deplete the storage in the dam, he said, and wondered how the authorities granted permission to sink the borewell near the dam.

Mr. Vijaya Kumar appealed to the Collector to take steps to close the unit so that drinking water supply from the dam would not be affected.

Dindigul MLA K. Balabharathi of the Communist Party of India (Marxists), who expressed grave concern over dwindling water level in the dam, also demanded closure of the water plant. Since the dam had only seven feet of water against the total storage level of 23 feet, the Corporation could supply drinking water only once in a fortnight.

The plant had been drawing a huge quantum of water, she said, and demanded its closure. She called for an inquiry and action against authorities who granted licence to the plant.

Ms. Balabharathi had already announced that a signature campaign would be launched and protests staged if the licence was not revoked and the plant not shut down.

Meanwhile, the Corporation officials sent a letter to the Public Works Department to initiate action against the plant.

The Hindu      10.09.2014

Proposals seeking release of water sent

Chances of this arid district getting its credit of water from Vaigai dam looked bright this year, even as the Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga district administrations have sent proposals to the government for release of 900 million cubic feet for drinking water and groundwater recharge.

As the water level in the Vaigai dam reached 51 feet against the full water level of 71 feet and good amount of discharge of water from Mullaperiyar dam was expected, the district is all set to receive its full share of 1,633 million cubic feet of water this year, official sources said.

Good storage

As there was good storage in the dam, the two district administrations have sent proposals to the government, seeking 400 million cubic feet of Vaigai water and another 900 million cubic feet of Periyar water on loan basis to meet the drinking water needs and augment the groundwater recharge, the sources said.

Ratio

The Vaigai water was shared by Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts on 2:3:7 basis respectively, but the district seldom got its full credit of 1,633 million cubic feet of water every year due to failure of monsoon or poor storage in Vaigai dam.

The district drew nil water in the last two years but received its full share in the year 2010 and 2011 when there was copious inflow into the Vaigai dam and good monsoon rains in the catchment areas.

When the district faced acute drinking water problem last year, the authorities had released 659 million cubic feet of water on the request of the district administration but the water could not even cross Manamaduarai due to severe drought condition, the sources said.