DMK government cancelled a plan designed during AIADMK rule to build check-dams across Cauvery: Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday accused the DMK government of scrapping a major water management project initiated under AIADMK rule to build check-dams at four locations across the Cauvery.

Addressing farmers, representatives of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and members of civic associations here, he said that during AIADMK rule, retired senior engineers were tasked with preparing a comprehensive water management strategy. “We identified lakes for desilting, desilted 6,000 tanks, and drew up plans for check-dams from Mettur up to where the Cauvery joins the sea. An order was issued to build check-dams at four locations, but the DMK cancelled it after coming to power,” he said.

He recalled the formation of the water management committee — comprising retired Water Resources Department officials — when he was the Chief Minister and said the initiative had significantly increased water storage, improved the groundwater level, and benefited farmers as well as households.

Farmers’ leader P. Ayyakannu praised Mr. Palaniswami for his support to the Delhi protests (demanding the repeal of three farm laws) and contrasted the gesture with what he called the DMK’s indifference. He called for the implementation of the Cauvery-Ayyaru and Cauvery-Gundar linking projects since they could prevent five lakh acres of fertile land from turning inarable.

MSME representatives, led by Tiruchi district association president Kannan, highlighted the drastic fall in the number of small industries in the district — from 650 units a decade ago to fewer than 100 now. They sought changes in the tender process followed by BHEL to ensure 40% work for local firms, withdrawal of GST notices, and relief from the steep power tariff increase.

Manikutty Iyer, secretary of Tiruchi District Banana Growers’ Association, demanded that Tiruchi be declared a banana export hub, with establishment of value-added processing facilities, and that bananas be included in midday meals on select days to benefit both farmers and students.

Vayalur N. Rajendran of the Tamil Maanila Congress said that in view of the surge in agricultural input cost, the procurement price of paddy should be raised to ₹3,500 a quintal, that of sugarcane to ₹4,500 a tonne, cow milk to ₹50 a litre, and buffalo milk to ₹55 a litre.