COIMBATORE: In an unsavoury development, Kerala PWD officials have violated rules by opening the emergency shutters of Siruvani dam near here, the major drinking water source supplying water to Coimbatore city.
According to a Tamil Nadu government official, amid the Paramabikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) canal water dispute demanding release of additional water to Kerala from PAP reservoirs, the Kerala government had resorted to a new low to create drinking water scarcity for Coimbatore. This is unprecedented, he regretted.
Despite accepting their demand to release additional water, 400 cusecs foot per second (CFPS) was released from Jan 19, which remained till Feb 14th despite poor rainfall in the catchment area. Totally 900 mcft water is promised, but there is a time limit till July to release the remaining water, said the official.
Meanwhile, the Janata Dal party members and Kerala farmers staged a protest couple of days ago at the border areas including Meenatchipuram, Gopalapuram, Velandhavalam, Govindhapuram and Naduppuni; they blocked the vehicles from Tamil Nadu entering Kerala, resulting in big revenue loss of about Rs. 150 crore.
Following a meeting at Goplapuram check post on Saturday evening the Pollachi DSP Krishnamoorty and Palakkad DSP Vijayakumar discussed to allow vehicles along with tight police protection till Chithore since Saturday night onwards.
