‘If Mekedatu dam is constructed, TN will face starvation’

TIRUCHY: Tamil Nadu would starve due to food scarcity if Karnataka constructs dam at Mekedatu, warned the Senior PWD Engineers Association on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, after an interactive session and awareness on water resources in the State organised by the Senior PWD Engineers Association, Paranthaman, the association president said, Tamil Nadu receives an average annual rainfall of 925 mm through which the State gets an average of 2500 TMC water. While the annual requirement of water is 1260 TMC water except for 916 TMC water only could be stored and utilised through as many as 100 water storage facilities and 40,000 water bodies. "The remaining water for waste either the accumulation of silts in several water bodies or poor storage facility,” he said.

He said that the association had sent a recommendation to the state government to dredge the water bodies to one metre depth so that the water could be stored in full capacity of which would ensure self sufficiency in water resource, he said.

Meanwhile, Paranthaman stated that Mekedatu is located in the boundary of Karnataka and the State does not need water beyond Mekedatu, but Tamil Nadu irrigation line commences after Mekedatu. "If Karnataka constructs a dam there with an aim to store 67 TMC water, only Tamil Nadu would lose such quantum of water and so Tamil Nadu government should approach the court and the union water resources department and explain in detail about the impact of the dam at Mekedatu,” the senior Engineer said.

He pointed out that 33 per cent of state's irrigation falls under the Cauvery delta region and the construction of dam at Mekedatu would prevent water to the delta region which would have a negative impact in paddy cultivation that would results starvation. "So, it is time that the government to act swiftly to stop the construction of the dam,” he asked.