Farmers, residents comfortable as Katchupalli lake stuffed after 70 years in Salem

With the Mettur surplus water reaching the Katchupalli lake, farmers and residents of Konganapuram and Edappadi are seeing the lake filling up after 70 years.

The Mettur surplus water scheme, popularly often known as the 100 lake scheme, pumps surplus water from Mettur to lakes within the Sankari, Edappadi, Omalur, and Mettur Assembly constituencies. Work began for the ₹565 crore undertaking in April 2020, when the AIADMK was in energy.

Under this scheme, when Mettur Dam attains its full capability, the excess water will likely be taken from the dam and pumped to 100 lakes. On June 29 this yr, Mettur Dam attained its full capability and surplus water was pumped by way of elevate irrigation and greater than 60 lakes, together with Katchupalli lake, within the 4 Assembly constituencies have been stuffed within the final two months.

Velavan, a farmer of Konganapuram, mentioned the lake unfold over 55 acres relies upon solely on rainwater. The farmers have protested to deliver the excess water to the lake and following this, the works have been sped up, and water reached the lake this yr. Through this, 1000’s of acres of farmland in and across the lake will get water for irrigation and the groundwater stage and farm properly stage will enhance. The authorities will take steps to fill the remaining lakes below this scheme quickly, Mr. Velavan added.