Kozhikode: Water resources minister Mathew T. Thomas has sought an estimate to strengthen the Peruvannamuzhi dam to store water up to its maximum capacity. The dam has a storage capacity of 44.41 metres, but currently, water is not being stored at this level as per the instruction of Central Water Commission. This is the context in which government is considering a support dam to strengthen the mother dam. The plan is to include the work in the Union government’s ‘Drip’ project to make avail Rs 50 crore for its construction. The minister also gave the nod for laying pipeline for the drinking water project in Perambra with an outlay of Rs 15 crore.
A master plan will be prepared to produce paddy annually from the Aavala Pandi, Veliyannur Chelli and Karuvad Chira. Another important decision is the setting up of a destination managing committee to draft a tourism map connecting Peruvannamuzhi and Kakkayam. The 80 percent of the tourism revenue will be used for the development of the centre and ten each to the tourism and irrigation departments. He was speaking after a review meeting at Chakkittapara attended by district-in-charge minister T.P, Ramakrishnan, district collector U.V. Jose and top officials of irrigation and tourism departments on Monday.
