In what could be a major setback to the activists who have been protesting for the proper implementation of Athikadavu - Avinashi Ground Water Scheme, some of the villages have been reportedly omitted in the newly announced plan by the State Government recently.
The issue has come to light after the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K.Palanisami, recently announced in the State assembly that the scheme would be implemented soon. CM had also released a plan for the scheme, the work for which would begin from December 2017 and end in the next 30 months according to the plan.
Thought the announcement as welcome by and large by those who have been protesting for the scheme for many years, a major lapse has been identified as sources claim that many villages, which were to be initially benefited from the scheme were omitted in the newly announced scheme.
Though details as to which areas have been omitted is a still a doubt, sources further claim villages in and around Annur have been omitted leaving a huge gap in the Coimbatore District, which is the starting point of this project.
It has been proposed to pump water from Kalingarayan canal and further distribute water up to Erode. Power stations are also to be set up along with the scheme in a few areas for power generation. The scheme is also to connect 92 water bodies providing them with necessary water from the three pumping stations in Kalingarayan Canal, Perundhurai and Annur.
However, since the scheme does not directly benefit villages in Coimbatore, members of the organisations that have been protesting for the scheme for many years have sought a revision of the scheme, adding all the left out villages that need water more than other places.
“It would be injustice if water is not provided to the villagers who have been protesting for the scheme. We are to collect as to who are all not getting water and would soon be making a representation to the Chief Minister to revise the scheme through Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani,” said P.K. Selvaraj, from the Save Kousika River organisation.
The issue has come to light after the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K.Palanisami, recently announced in the State assembly that the scheme would be implemented soon. CM had also released a plan for the scheme, the work for which would begin from December 2017 and end in the next 30 months according to the plan.
Thought the announcement as welcome by and large by those who have been protesting for the scheme for many years, a major lapse has been identified as sources claim that many villages, which were to be initially benefited from the scheme were omitted in the newly announced scheme.
Though details as to which areas have been omitted is a still a doubt, sources further claim villages in and around Annur have been omitted leaving a huge gap in the Coimbatore District, which is the starting point of this project.
It has been proposed to pump water from Kalingarayan canal and further distribute water up to Erode. Power stations are also to be set up along with the scheme in a few areas for power generation. The scheme is also to connect 92 water bodies providing them with necessary water from the three pumping stations in Kalingarayan Canal, Perundhurai and Annur.
However, since the scheme does not directly benefit villages in Coimbatore, members of the organisations that have been protesting for the scheme for many years have sought a revision of the scheme, adding all the left out villages that need water more than other places.
“It would be injustice if water is not provided to the villagers who have been protesting for the scheme. We are to collect as to who are all not getting water and would soon be making a representation to the Chief Minister to revise the scheme through Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani,” said P.K. Selvaraj, from the Save Kousika River organisation.