Minister denies EPS charge on AAP at Erode

Housing Minister S Muthusamy denied the allegation made by former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami that the DMK government has shelved the second phase of Athikadavu Avinasi project developed during his regime and said that the EPS rule did not bring any such project.
After a review meeting on the project in the collectorate on Friday, he said that out of the total 1,045 ponds in the Athikadavu-Avinasi project, water didn't reach only 71 ponds due to some technical reasons.
During the next 15 days,  they would also get water. Around 101 ponds are filled up with water fully. In some ponds,  the water level has decreased due to excessive absorption of ground water. He informed that there is no 2nd phase of AAP as there is no surplus water in the Bavani river. 
Only some ponds can be linked with the existing ponds of AAP to get surplus water of the ponds. 
But there is no water to create 2nd phase of project to pump water for more tanks and ponds.
As per the AAP, 1.5 tmc surplus water of Bavani can be used. Now, 0.63 tmc water was used. Whenever there is surplus water in the Bavani river, it can be pumped to the tanks. 
The design of the project is that the existing surplus water could be used in 1045 tanks.  In the Perundurai SIPCOT, boomi pooja was held on Friday to instal a Rs 2.8 lakh worth flow meter in the Nalla Odai to assess the inflow of effluents. Of 60000 tons  mixed salt in the factories there, 16000 tons were sent to Ramanathapuram. 
The rest would be cleared in phased manner. Tender would be invited on December 9 regarding erection of a new CETP there, he added.