Chennai sources have stated with Tamil Nadu government failing to respond to several letters sent by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Kerala government regarding the latter’s proposal to build a gravity dam across Siruvani river, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects has recommended grant of standard Terms of Reference for the project.
Meanwhile the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects, which has recommended grant of standard Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposal to build a gravity dam across Siruvani river, had ealier directed the project proponent the Water Resources Department (WRD) of Kerala Government to obtain comments from Tamil Nadu.
It is also added that the Kerala Government’s argument is that there are no major or medium retaining structures in the command area of the project, where most of the irrigation facilities are privately owned lift irrigation systems which are confined to small patches, relied mainly on rain-fed agriculture.
Also Kerala was entitled to 6 tmc as per the Cauvery tribunal’s final award, officials here are apprehensive that the new dam, which is likely to have three fillings every year, could help the neighboring State store more than its entitlement.
