Jayalalithaa gives up New Veeranam Extension Project

World Business News | Chennai News

 
CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday announced that the government was giving up the New Veeranam Extension Project as farmers in Colleron basin had expressed fears that the project would affect agriculture.

In a statement, she said that despite the Madras High Court’s nod, the government had decided not to execute the project as it didn’t want to scare the farmers. ‘‘I always take into consideration the interests of the farmers before taking any decision. As I strongly believe that in a true democracy the opinion of the people prevails, I have taken this decision.’’

She said the extension project had been planned to provide drinking water supply to Chennai at a time when the Veeranam lake didn’t have enough water, and taking into account the fact that a desalination plant wouldn’t be in place to supply water this summer.

‘‘However, the heavy rains witnessed by the state have brought in adequate water to Veeranam lake through Coleroon river. This has ensured the continuation of water supply to Chennai from Veeranam. Moreover, my government has given permission for desalination plant, a reliable water supply project. The project will be completed in 2006.’’

She said only after a team of experts opined that it would not cause any damage to agriculture was the project cleared. ‘‘Still farmers in that area had apprehensions and I sent my ministers and officials to allay their fears in 2004 itself. I also ordered the construction of eight check dams across the Coleroon river to raise the ground water level at a cost of Rs 75 crore.’’

Jayalalithaa also said that besides stopping sand quarrying in the Coleroon river, she had ordered that applications for power connections from the farmers in Tha Pazhur and Thirumanur unions in Perambalur district must be given preference, as had been done in the case of the Cauvery Delta farmers. ‘‘When the Opposition members in the Assembly raised doubts about Project I, the PWD minister gave necessary clarification. However, instigated by some people, a few farmers filed three cases in the HC and the court, after careful consideration, dismissed their petitions,’’ she said.

The CM said as per the HC advice, an experts’ team met farmers and people’s representatives and explained to them that it would not harm their interests or agriculture. ‘‘But the experts also brought to my notice that farmers had serious apprehensions about the project. Since water can be supplied to Chennai even without the extension project I am dropping the project.’’



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