The shutters of Mukkombu getting washed away in the recent floods has shocked everyone, including farmers and environmentalists. Nine out of 45 sluice gates of the 190-year-old Mukkombu Dam in Trichy were washed away sparking fears of flooding downstream of the Kollidam river and less water for four districts in the tail-end areas of the Cauvery.
With more water draining into the Kollidam, farmers in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Pudukkottai districts are worried since they feel the Cauvery river may not get enough. This would hamper samba cultivation. Many say that ryots may face another drought year in downstream districts of the Cauvery river despite good water storage in Mettur. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami visited Upper Anaicut on Friday to assess the damage.
Environmentalists want the State government to constitute a committee of technical experts to look into the matter. They even blame unmitigated sand quarrying on the Cauvery for the shutters of Mukkombu getting washed away in the recent floods. It is time for action. Before it rains in Tamilnadu, the government should take efforts to ensure the security and safety of all dams in the State.