T.N. will never compromise on its legitimate share of water: Governor’s address

The Tamil Nadu government has taken all necessary steps to secure its rightful share of water from inter-State rivers, according to the customary address of the Governor, which was deemed to have been read, in the Assembly on Tuesday. (The Governor has declined to read out the prepared speech and walked out. A resolution was then adopted in the House that the speech prepared by the State government and sent to him would be considered as having been read out by him in the House.)

“We will never compromise on our legitimate share of water,” it said. Since this government assumed office, the Mettur dam has been opened every year as per schedule for irrigation, and desilting works have been carried out at a cost of ₹459 crore during the past four years, the address said.

“These measures have ensured that water reaches the tail-end areas, thereby increasing agricultural production and improving the lives of farmers.”

In Tamil Nadu, 121 check dams and 101 anaicuts have been constructed during the last five years at an estimated cost of ₹2,086 crore. Further, under the Athikadavu–Avinashi project, 1,045 water bodies have been replenished so far. The Tamirabharani-Karumeniyar-Nambiyar project has been completed, enabling a supply of a cumulative amount of 9.38 TMC of water from the Thamirabarani river to several villages in the Thisayanvilai and Sathankulam areas. Through this project, irrigation facilities have been extended to an additional 56,933 acres of land, the address added.