Officials inspect Upper Anicut, MK Stalin wants survey of dams
The PMK and farmers blamed the indiscriminate sand mining in the river for the damage to the dam.
Chennai: DMK working president M. K. Stalin has blamed the state government for the damage at Mukkombu (Upper Anicut) and said the damage to the sluice gates only showed the AIADMK government’s “negligence” in the maintaining dams in the state. He urged the government to carry out a survey on the safety of the dams in across the state.
Tamil Nadu government officials on Thursday inspected the Upper Anicut dam across the Coleroon river at Mukkombu near Tiruchy and decided to put up a temporary structure after a portion of it got breached. Speaking to reporters at the site, officials said ways are being discussed to put up a temporary structure. The PMK and farmers blamed the indiscriminate sand mining in the river for the damage to the dam.
PMK leader and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss blamed the state government for the lack of maintenance and indiscriminate sand mining in the Coleroon river which led to the weakening of the dam and the subsequent damage.
On Wednesday night eight sluice gates out of 45 in the dam were washed away resulting in heavy outflow of water. Some of the piers supporting the shutters also came down.