Salem: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday inaugurated the Rs 565 crore Mettur surplus water scheme to fill water bodies in dry parts of the district, facilitating better use of water for agriculture and drinking.
Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the scheme at Thippampatti in Mettur, EPS listed the welfare schemes and development projects implemented by the AIADMK government for the benefit of farmers and announced that 24-hour three-phase free power for farm pumpsets would be provided from April 1. The measure was announced by EPS during a recent campaign in Tirupur.
Noting that the Mettur surplus water scheme would go a long way in meeting irrigation and drinking water requirements of villages in Salem, EPS said surplus water from Mettur dam will irrigate 4,238 acres of land in 40 villages through 79 lakes. “Besides, drinking water needs of 38 villages will be fulfilled,” he said.
Work for the project announced in 2019 was started in May 2020 and was completed in a record time, EPS said. “Surplus water would be supplied from Thippampatti pumping station to M Kalipatti lake and from there to Vellalapuram and Kannandhiri pumping stations to 42 water bodies. Similarly, 31 lakes can be supplied with water via Nangavalli. We have been implementing several such initiatives for the welfare of farmers,’’ he said, adding that AIADMK is the only party, which had waived farm loan twice within five years.
“Amma (late chief minister J Jayalalithaa) promised to waive loans during the 2016 election campaign, and did so as soon as election was over. Now, we have waived farm loans once again even before the polls,” he said.
The AIADMK government was the only regime that released Rs 2,247 crore to provide relief to drought-hit farmers, EPS said. “We also declared the Cauvery delta region a protected agricultural zone.”
EPS also laid foundation stones for 23 minor projects worth Rs 23 crore and inaugurated buildings and projects completed at a cost of Rs 63 crore across Salem.