Tamil farmers seek implementation of Pandiyar Punnampuzha project

They said that the project will lead to 'water for Tamil Nadu and electricity for Kerala'

The Federation Of Tamil Nadu Agriculturists Associations today urged the Centre and Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments to consider implementing a pioneer but shelved Pandiyar Punnampuzha project on the basis of 'water for Tamil Nadu and electricity for Kerala,' with top priority in the interest of National integration.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, FTAA secretary S Nallasamy said the rivers Pandiyar and Punnampuzha originate in Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu and flow towards the west through Kerala and drains without usage into the Arabian Sea.

A project, which was conceptualised in the early 60's, was shelved due to the change in governments in 1967, he claimed

If both state governments indulge in bilateral, amicable negotiations over this project,on the basis of water for Tamil Nadu and electricity for Kerala, this could yield 18 TMC of water for Tamil Nadu per year, thus putting an end to the water scarcity of Bhavani river basins, Nallasamy said.

This will also help implementation of the long awaited Atthikkadavu-Avinashi drinking water project, he said.

This could serve as irrigation water for Cauvery delta districts and drinking water for Chennai through Veeranam lake, Nallasamy said, adding that this to an extent would meet Kerala's power demand.

The project called for entire funding from the Centre.

Interlinking of rivers being an important agenda for the NDA government, finding a prime place in the 2014 election Manifesto, he said this project could be the stepping stone towards harnessing of rivers and could be a pilot project for the upcoming river linking projects, Nallasamy said.

Copies of the letter have also been sent to the President, governors and chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.