Thanjavur: Former Union minister and former Thanjavur MP, Mr. S.S. Palanimanickam hit out at the Tamil Nadu government, saying it has “miserably failed” in readying the water bodies in Cauvery delta districts for storing surplus waters and has wasted quite a large quantity of water by letting it flow into the sea this year.
He told presspersons here on Sunday that he was alarmed to see the wastage of water though nature has helped in Mettur dam surplussing twice this year.
“This is a black day for Thanjavur Farmers,” he said. “Tamil Nadu government should take the responsibility if there is cultivation loss this year,” he added. He said that government should have taken the services of experienced PWD engineers and district collectors who worked in the delta in emergency situations like this. “I am not saying that officials working now in the district are incompetent but the experienced people's guidance will help,” Palanimanickam said.
He regretted that the state minister in charge of the district and MPs belonging to ruling party from the district have not bothered to stay in Thanjavur and monitor the situation and supervise the works.
He said the national bank Nabard had allotted Rs 450 crore for modernising the Grand Anicut (GA) canal during UPA regime at the Centre.
Out of this Rs 200 crore was released as first installment for modernisation works from Thanjavur to Peravurani. But the AIADMK government which came to power in 2011 has not taken steps to get the second installment and continue the work, Mr. Palanimanickam alleged.
There are nearly 2,500 lakes and ponds in Cauvery delta districts. If they had been desilted properly and rejuvenated, water could have been stored in them.
“Water should have been released into the moat around Big temple in Thanjavur. It has not been done. It would have filled up the tanks in the town connected with it,” the former minister said.
“Bills should not be paid to contractors who have taken up desilting works this year. They have not done it properly. Bills should be paid after assessing works done only next year after the samba season,” he added.
