CHENNAI: The State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu, has directed Dindigul Collector to desilt water channels leading to Kamarajar Sagar Dam under the rural employment schemes immediately. SHRC member Jayanthi passed the order when a petition filed by farmers and people of Vakkampatti, Kummampatti, Veerakkal and other villages came up for hearing. The farmers and people of the villages alleged their livelihood was affected by water scarcity. The authorities had not maintained water resources and dams properly. A large number of illegal bore wells were set up along the river bed of Kudaganaru.
The Kamarajar Sagar Dam, constructed at Kudaganaru in Dindigul district during 1950s, had not been desilted for years. Its storage capacity also had reduced alarmingly. Besides several obstacles, authorities sanctioned new drinking water project for Dindigul town by widening and deepening of Kamaraj dam. The commission directed that the PWD and revenue department should immediately take up cleaning and desilting of water channels leading to Kamarajar Sagar dam under rural employment schemes. The shutter and sluice gate which are in disrepair at the dam should be immediately repaired. The commission also directed the authorities to submit revenue records relating to the dam.
