Politicians make promises on Mullaperiyar dam only during poll time, say Cumbum farmers

Politicians make promises on Mullaperiyar dam only during poll time, say Cumbum farmers

Cumbum Assembly Constituency, part of fertile Theni district, is one among the five southern districts to benefit from the Mullaperiyar dam built by Col. Pennicuick.

However, the farmers here say that the grievances have never been addressed by the politicians, who make tall promises only during the poll time and forget conveniently for the next five years.

Since May 2021, how many times did the Chief Minister or Minister for Water Resources or the Secretary to the government (WRD) would have visited the Mullaperiyar dam or at least the Cumbum valley and addressed the farmers, asks Ponkatchi Kannan, a member of the Periyar Vaigai Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam.

Speaking to The Hindu, he said that from increasing the storage level to 152 feet, felling the 14 trees and to allow the Tamil Nadu officials inside the reservoir and among others for upkeep at periodic intervals, nothing tangible had been done by the Tamil Nadu government.

This was not the case with Kerala, he says.

The officials and ministers from the PWD, Tourism and Forests in Kerala government visited Mullaperiyar dam and had taken a number of steps to benefit the people, the farmers and visitors, he said and added that the Tamil Nadu government is accountable and cannot give any excuse that the row regarding the reservoir was being monitored by the apex court.