more-in A day-long joint operation organised by four government departments on Saturday led to the seizure of more than 100 motor pumpsets, which were involved in the illegal tapping of water from River Cauvery for the lands situated on the banks of the river in Mettur and Sankagiri revenue sub-divisions. The almost dry bed of River Cauvery and the meagre storage in the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur has in no way deterred the people involved in the illegal tapping of water using motor pumpsets for farm activities. With drinking water scarcity looming large in both urban and rural areas, the continuance of this illegal practice is expected to spell a doom during the summer months. With the failure of both the north-east and south-west monsoons and the repeated refusal of Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu’s share of water in River Cauvery from Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs, the inflow into the dam has been below below three-figure mark for the past many weeks. With no sign of increase in the storage level, the Public Works Department has kept the discharge from Mettur Dam for meeting the drinking water needs of 16 districts at 500 cusecs for many days. Farmers led by C. Vaiyapuri, president of the United Farmers Association – Tamil Nadu, have always been complaining about the illegal tapping of water using pump sets by farmers who had raised crops in their fields abutting both banks of River Cauvery. The illegal pumping of water from the near dry bed has caused concern to the official machinery too. Mr. Vaiyapuri has been demanding stringent action against the vested interests indulging in this illegal practice. Meanwhile, special teams of officials of the revenue department, PWD, TANGEDO and Police, led by T. Ramadurai Murugan, Revenue Divisional Officer, Sankagiri, launched a special drive from dawn-to-dusk on Saturday to check the illegal water tapping menace. The teams conducted surprise checks on the banks of the river at Navapatti, Kolnayakkanpatti and surrounding villages in Mettur block; Koneripatti, Kaveripatti and surrounding villages in Sankagiri block and also in the villages in Edappadi block. Official sources said that more than 100 pump sets were seized from these villages by evening. Some of the pumpsets were found hidden in the bushes and the officials managed to identify and seize them. Mr. Murugan personally monitored the operation. Officials also spotted illegal tapping of power from the lamp posts and the same were disconnected. Action will be initiated against all those involved in the illegal tapping of water and power, the sources said. Mr. Murugan, who is also the RDO, Mettur (in-charge), told The Hindu that similar drives will be conducted regularly and stringent action will be initiated against those who continue to indulge in this illegal practice.

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