Efforts to draw the attention of authorities to their plight have proved futile so far. Mettur may be the lifeline of the Cauvery delta region and the rice bowl of the State, but not for the local farmers and residents and that is the strange reality as the Stanley reservoir provides water for irrigation and drinking in the delta region but the local people face water scarcity.
The key candidates who have fielded in the Mettur constituency are S. Semmalai (AIADMK), G.K. Mani (PMK), S.R. Parthiban (Makkal DMDK) and Bhupathi (DMDK) will have to walk the extra mile to convince people on implementing projects for sharing the surplus water of Mettur dam for irrigation in Salem and neighboring districts.
All the four leading candidates who are contesting belong to the dominant Vanniyar community. Another unfulfilled demand is the provision of cold storage facility for tomato farmers of Mecheri and a factory for manufacturing value- added products.
The AIADMK cadre are hoping that the achievements of the government includes the execution of the underground drainage works, construction of high-level bridge, commissioning of electric crematorium, funds for solid waste management project and for widening the road from Mettur Camp to Thottilpatti.
