Date:07/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/07/stories/2003040704540400.htm

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Veeranam dry despite monsoon rain: Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai April 6. The State Congress general secretary, K. S. Alagiri, has questioned the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's claim that northeast monsoon rains were sufficient to supply water to Chennai from the Veeranam lake in Cuddalore.

In a statement here, he said the Veeranam tank was completely dry now despite its having received monsoon showers. Besides, the tank had been deepened as well.

"There cannot be a better proof to show that the tank cannot provide water for Chennai," he said, fervently urging the Chief Minister to give up the Rs.720-crore Veeranam scheme.

Since 1974, the flow from Cauvery to Veeranam tank, located at the lower end of the delta, had been insufficient for raising even one crop a year and the farmers there were largely dependent on monsoon. If the Government diverts even rainwaters from Veeranam, agricultural land would become arid in Cuddalore district.

The Veeranam farmers had no political motive to stall the project, but it posed a problem to the future of lakhs of agriculturists. When the previous DMK regime announced the new Veeranam scheme, a delegation of MLAs made a representation to the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, urging him to give up the project. "Our wish is that the present Chief Minister should also take a similar decision."

The water needs of Chennai could be met by increasing the storage of the Pulicat and Adambakkam lakes. Also, the Telugu Ganga project could be speeded up to increase the annual quantum of supplies to Chennai.

While the Pulicat lake can hold 61 tmcft, the Veeranam tank's full storage capacity was less than one tmcft. In 1979, the then Chief Minister, M. G. Ramachandran, set up an expert committee to look into the Pulicat lake scheme, Mr. Alagiri recalled.

Hence, Ms. Jayalalithaa, without making it a political or prestige issue, should give up the Veeranam project and take up the Telugu Ganga, Pulicat and Adambakkam lake projects.