S.P. Velumani, Minister for minister for Municipal Administration, Rural Development, Corporations, Panchayats and Panchayat Unions, Poverty Alleviation Programmes, Rural Indebtedness, Urban and Rural Water Supply (TWAD) and Implementation of Special Programme convened a meeting at the Collectorate to discuss on the drought situations in the State and regarding the emerging water scarcity in Coimbatore.
He stated that the report on the drought situation in Tamil Nadu has been submitted to the central government. And, they are hopeful that the Central Government will support them with requisite funds to handle the situation. The farmers who have lost their livelihood due to extreme drought situation will be duly compensated based on the crop variety.
We also discussed on the drought situation and the drinking water scarcity issues, in the district of Coimbatore. When speaking to the press after the inspection he said, “Efforts have been made to conduct a comprehensive inspection about the drought situation in all the districts in Tamil Nadu and also to declare Tamil Nadu as a drought-hit state. Compensation to the farmers who lost their crops will be provided”
He added that “Efforts are being made to solve the drinking water crisis in Coimbatore. Some people are trying to make use of the drinking water crisis situation and instigate protests. Instead people should co-operate with the officials, only then the crisis can be handled effectively'.
'228 Villages and 1200 hamlets have been identified in the district of Coimbatore. Every four villages will have a regional officer who will check on the water scarcity issues at the place. Hence, 48 Regional Officers have been designated in this regard. The officials have to spread the word of awareness to the people insisting them to spend water responsibly and the factual situation prevailing at our water bodies. We can overcome this situation only through the combined effort of the people and the government, as the city is experiencing severe drought situation after 140 years.
'Meanwhile, TWAD Officials are conducting meetings with the officials of Kerala to pump water from the Siruvani Dam which is currently at the dead storage level. If permission is granted by the Kerala Government, the stagnated water will be pumped through motors and disbursed to people. We expect that an amicable solution will be obtained for the problem, soon” he assured.
Deputy speaker of Tamil Nadu assembly Pollachi V. Jayaraman, District Collector T. N. Hariharan, District Police Commissioner A. Amalraj, Superintend of Police Ramyabharathi, Corporation Commissioner Dr. Vijayakarthikeyan, MLA, P.R.G. Arunkumar, Amman. K. Arjunan, O.K. Chinnaraj, V.C.Arukutt and officials from TWAD board officials, Coimbatore Corporation officials, agricultural department officials, revenue department officials, police department officials participated in the review meeting.