ERODE: Tamil Nadu revenue minister K A Sengottaiyan on Saturday criticized the previous DMK govt for not having pursued legal remedies to stop Karnataka’s move to build a dam across the Cauvery river in Mekedatu. Speaking at a consultation meeting of officials from different departments held at the Erode district collectorate, Sengottaiyan reiterated that chief minister C Joseph Vijay had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt the move to build a dam in Mekedatu. During the review meeting, the minister told officials to deliver results quickly, saying the govt’s performance since coming to power warranted a thorough review and that the people’s demands should be met without delay. “Officers must complete necessary office procedures promptly and ensure citizens receive timely relief,” he told reporters after the meeting. The review, chaired by district collector S Kandasamy and also attended by handloom minister M Vijay Balaji, covered a wide range of administrative concerns. A major focus was the Athikadavu-Avinashi integrated drinking water project. Officials were directed to find out why more than 70 ponds were not getting filled and asked them to take remedial measures. Officials were instructed to begin silt-removal operations in the Bhavanisagar Dam to improve storage capacity and downstream supply. On allegations that liquor outlets were operating in violation of regulations, the revenue minister demanded concrete statistics and warned that strict action would follow where breaches were confirmed.
