Members of the Cauvery Surplus Water Action Committee has urged the State government to utilise the surplus water from the Mettur Dam for filling of water bodies in the district.
In a petition submitted to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami at Vanavasi here on Friday, they said that the surplus water from the 16-vent sluices, Ellis Saddle Bridge, and in Stanley Reservoir is not utilised, resulting in the water entering the sea. Hence, they demanded implementation of the Thanadiyur - Moolakadu scheme through which water could be pumped from River Cauvery near Mettur Thermal Power Station to reach the two villages, located three km away from the river. From there, the water can be let into canals as it passes through villages filling water bodies before reaching River Sarabanga. It will help in irrigating 30,000 acres, the petition said.
Another scheme is interlinking of the surplus water with the Nayappan Lake in Mecheri, It will help in irrigating another 30,000 acres, the petition said.
Its coordinator R. Thambaiyah said that due to acute shortage of water, more people from these areas go for jobs to other States.
Also, 95% of the farmers are small and medium farmers. Hence, only by implementing the two schemes, the area could be developed, he added.