Coimbatore: In a notice issued on behalf of the PMK, the benefits of the Pandiyaar-Punnampuzha project have been elaborated. Stating that this scheme will be advantageous to both TN and Kerala, the PMK requested the TN government to take action to initiate the project that will solve the water shortage issue of TN.
Coimbatore: In a notice issued on behalf of the PMK, the benefits of the Pandiyaar-Punnampuzha project have been elaborated. Stating that this scheme will be advantageous to both TN and Kerala, the PMK requested the TN government to take action to initiate the project that will solve the water shortage issue of TN.
The release read, "What Coimbatore public and the people's representatives must understand is that 2-5% of water from each river is taken for consumption by the people, 20-25% is used for industries and 70-75% is used for agriculture. The people of Coimbatore are being provided with water through various schemes such as Siruvani scheme, Pillur scheme 1, Kavundampalayam- Vadavalli scheme (Bhavani River), Kurichi-Kuniyamuthur scheme (Aliyar) and Pillur scheme 2.
Due to water shortage, the work for Pillur scheme 3 has now begun and expected to be completed by 2023. Similarly, to end the water problem that has been prevalent for the past 50 years, the Avinashi-Athikadavu scheme will be implemented soon. Through this scheme 1-2 TMC water might be received. We should be mindful that we can receive this water only when the Bhavani river floods.
As mentioned earlier, only 2-5% water can be taken for the use of the public. We have gone past this already and have started using the water meant for agriculture. This is due to water leakage and improper management."
It further states, "Can we resolve the water shortage issue by not tapping into the water meant for agriculture? It is very much possible to do so. In India, the place that receives excellent rainfall second to Cherrapunji in Meghalaya are the water catchment areas in the Nilgiris, the regions in the Western Ghats.
This water flows west, through the Pandiyaar in Kerala and gets into the Arabian sea. This excess water is wasted entirely. If a check dam is built in this area and water is retained, then TN can receive 12 to 14 TMC water each year. This is the Pandiyaar-Punnampuzha scheme. This is not a new project. It has been spoken about for many years but has not been implemented due to various political reasons.
"This scheme should have been implemented in the 1960's. That was the period when there was excessive electricity shortage and TN faced acute water shortage. The Pandiyaar-Punnampuzha scheme was proposed during that time to satisfy the needs of both the states. The plan was to build a check dam and install a hydro-power station. Electricity produced in this station was to be used by Kerala and the water in the dam was to be used by TN.
In fact, a bilateral agreement was made between the two states, but for various political reasons the plan was given up. Is this scheme possible? If the representatives of both the states sit down for a talk regarding the welfare of the people, then it scheme will come into effect. It is necessary because TN still faces water shortage.
On the other hand, Kerala which used to lack sufficient electricity has now become a state with surplus electricity. At this stage is this scheme still possible? Yes, this is the right time for this scheme! The Kerala government had made an agreement in 2015 to buy 865 megawatt (Rs.4.11/ unit) from outside providers.
That is why it has become an electricity surplus state. However, the electricity produced through the Pandiyaar-Punnampuzha hydro-powers station will cost less than Rs.2/unit. The Kerala government will make a huge profit out of this. A lot of murky incidents have happened at the power company that secured the contract from Kerala government.
The president of the organisation was terminated last August and many frauds have been uncovered. Based on this, the Kerala government can cancel the contract and come forward to construct the check dam. This will benefit the people of both the states. The PMK requests the TN government to take this scheme forward on behalf of the people." stated the release.