Karuna, Vaiko urge villagers to call off fast on water project

In a statement here, Karunanidhi said, the scheme, if implemented, would benefit more than eight Assembly constituencies in Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur districts, besides irrigating over 30,000 acres of agricultural lands. 

Accusing the ruling AIADMK of not taking any steps during the last five years of its rule on the issue, the DMK chief claimed that since the government was at its fag end, only a new government (that would assume office after the ensuing assembly elections) would implement it. 

Pointing out that the DMK had in its 2011 election manifesto promised to implement the project, Karunanidhi said, since the party had lost the polls, it could not implement it. 

The DMK president, however, said the party would be including the project again in the manifesto for the ensuing polls and appealed to the fasting people to withdraw their indefinite stir. 

Since the time was becoming ripe for implementation of the project, Karunanidhi appealed to them to maintain patience for a few more days and call off their fast.

Meanwhile, Vaiko also appealed to the fasting people to withdraw their stir and said the project was included in the Common Minimum Programme(CMP) of their front. Under the scheme, it was suggested that surplus water from Pilloor Dam be taken to Karamadai and to other places, including Avinashi and Perundurai. 

The scheme will help Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts in recharging ground water resources. 

The scheme was also named Mel Bhavani project and was rechristened as Athikadavu-Avinashi ground water project in 1972.