Desilting work in delta to be completed by end of May: Minister

Thanjavur: Higher education minister Govi Chezhian on Saturday said that desilting work in the canals of the delta districts would be completed by the end of May.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating desilting work in Manambadi and Veppathur areas near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, he said, "As in previous years, water will reach the tail end regions of the Cauvery delta districts without any interruption. The ongoing desilting work will be completed before May, it will also help surplus rainwater to drain quickly, preventing damage to crops during the monsoon season."
The minister added that chief minister M K Stalin will release water from the Mettur dam on June 12.
He further said that a total of 1,071 desilting projects have been undertaken across the Trichy, Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore zones, covering a cumulative length of 6,179.60km, with an allocation of Rs120 crore. "In Thanjavur district alone, 4,760km have been desilted over the past four years. This year, 1,380km have been desilted across 291 locations," he added.