Stalin Inaugurates Athikadavu-Avinashi Water Scheme

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Athikadavu-Avinashi Ground Water Recharge and Drinking Water Supply Scheme, aimed at replenishing 1,045 water bodies and irrigating 24,468 acres of farmland across Erode, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore districts. The project involves diverting 1.5 TMC of surplus water from the Bhavani river and was first proposed by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 1972 but faced numerous delays. Although the foundation stone was laid by the AIADMK government in 2019, Stalin completed the project after coming to power in 2021. The scheme is expected to significantly benefit local farmers and address long-standing water scarcity issues. Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami claimed credit for initiating the project during his tenure, stating that 90% of the work was completed by the end of the AIADMK government's term. The project was formally commissioned via video conferencing from Chennai, with several dignitaries and local officials present.