The State government has informed the Madras High Court that a revised proposal on Athikadavu-Avinashi irrigation project is ready and it would soon be forwarded to the Centre for approval.
The Chief Engineer of the State Public Works Department made the submission on a public interest litigation petition moved by R.Othisamy, a resident of Coimbatore.
The petitioner had appealed to the court to direct the State government to expedite the project, which would benefit Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode districts.
Recording the submission of the official, the First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan said, “Counsel for the authorities is not in a position to state before us as to how much further time would be required. We thus call upon the officials to file a bar chart with the status report stating out the expected time periods for various clearance….”
Compliance report
The Bench directed the authorities to file a compliance report within a month, and posted the petition to September 9 for further hearing.
According to the State government, a detailed report on the project was planned at a cost of Rs. 1,862 crore in 2011. It envisaged diversion of surplus water of 2,000 cusecs from the Bhavani river to 31 water resources department tanks, 40 panchayat union tanks and 538 ponds in Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode districts.
The report was sent to the Union government for assistance under the flood management programme.
“As the Central government suggested that the project be considered as an irrigation scheme, alternative studies were conducted, and the Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Public Works made an announcement on February 16 that the project be implemented as an Irrigation, Ground Water Recharge and Drinking Water Scheme,” the official said.
A Government Order was issued on February 18 and administrative sanction for Rs. 3.27 crore was accorded to conduct preliminary work.
The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, was directed to prepare a cost estimate for the project on urgent basis.
“In view of the direction, a revised proposal has been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,523 crore. It is under consideration for onward transmission to the Central Water Commission for assistance under Prime Minister’s Krishi Sinchayee Yojana,” the official said.
Environmental nod
He added efforts to obtain environment and forest clearance for land acquisition were on.
Petition urges HC to expedite the project that will benefit Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts
