logo
Mettur dam canals opened to cater to irrigation needs

Mettur dam canals opened to cater to irrigation needs

Time of India01-07-2025
Salem: The east and west bank canals connected to the Mettur dam were opened on Tuesday to meet irrigation requirements in Salem, Namakkal, and Erode districts.
Tourism minister R Rajendran opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir, allowing water from the Cauvery river to flow out of the dam and into the canals.
"In response to farmers' requests, chief minister M K Stalin had directed the water resources department (WRD) officials to open the west and east bank canals of the Mettur dam for irrigation purposes," the minister said. He added that approximately 45,000 acres of land would benefit, including 16,443 acres in Salem district, 11,327 acres in Namakkal district, and 17,230 acres in Erode district. "I urge the farmers in these three districts to utilise the Cauvery water released through the Mettur east and west bank canals judiciously," he said.
Salem MP T M Selvaganapathy, Rajya Sabha MP SR Sivalingam, and collector R Brindha Devi, among others were present when the sluice gates were opened.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Doctor's Day 2025
,
messages
and quotes!
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

RS passes Bill to boost exploration and supply of critical and deep-seated minerals
RS passes Bill to boost exploration and supply of critical and deep-seated minerals

Indian Express

time24 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

RS passes Bill to boost exploration and supply of critical and deep-seated minerals

Rajya Sabha Tuesday passed The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 which seeks to boost the supply of critical and deep-seated minerals, and relax the regime for mineral conservation, zero waste management and extraction of strategic minerals. The Bill was passed through voice vote as almost all Opposition members had walked out early over their demand for a discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. No Opposition member participated in the two-hour discussion during which 19 MPs spoke in support of the Bill. Lok Sabha passed the Bill on August 12. One of the key provisions of the Bill amending the original 1957 Act is to enable inclusion of new minerals in a mining lease. Minister of Mines G Kishan Reddy said about the government's work on critical minerals: 'Today in each sector, from automobile to defence, we need critical minerals such as beryllium, cobalt, gallium. We have identified 24 critical minerals and `32,000 crore set aside for the critical mineral mission.' He said critical mineral exploration will happen outside India in Zambia, Australia and Argentina. 'India's public sector company KABIL has begun exploration in five blocks in Argentina and production on lithium will start from next year,' he said. The government launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in January. Critical minerals are used in solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and in energy storage. Earlier, CPI (M) John Brittas raised a point of order under Rule 67 and said that the Bill trampled on the rights of states, usurping powers of state governments. He said that the Bill should be sent to the select committee as it has far-reaching impacts. However, Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the chair, did not accept his demand.

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025 gets Parliament's approval
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025 gets Parliament's approval

United News of India

time37 minutes ago

  • United News of India

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025 gets Parliament's approval

New Delhi, Aug 19 (UNI) The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at promoting exploration, mining, and processing of critical and rare minerals and liberalising the overall mining regulatory framework to attract investments, was passed by the Rajya Sabha today. With this, the Bill has received approval from both Houses of Parliament. After a reply by Union Minister for Mines G Kishan Reddy during the discussion in the Upper House, the Bill was passed by a voice vote without any amendments. The Lok Sabha had already passed it earlier. Amid Opposition uproar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar during Zero Hour, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned once in the morning. When the House reconvened at 2 pm, Congress and other Opposition parties again raised the issue, but Deputy Chairman Ghanshyam Tiwari did not allow it. Protesting the decision, Opposition members walked out of the House. Afterwards, Union Minister Reddy introduced the Bill and outlined its key objectives. During the debate, 19 members from various parties participated and supported the Bill while offering suggestions. In his reply, Reddy referred to the coal scam and the opacity, nepotism, and corruption that plagued the mining sector before 2014. He said the Modi government's reforms have restored public trust in the mining sector and led to economic benefits and significant transformation. Describing the mining sector as a source of prosperity and employment, Reddy said the Bill is inspired by the goal of harnessing its potential. He noted that due to reforms over the past decade, mining has grown rapidly, and states' revenues have increased tenfold. All proceeds from mineral premiums, royalties, and other levies go to the states. He emphasised that the central government works for the nation's development, not just revenue collection. He also highlighted that India's coal production has reached one billion tonnes annually for the first time, imports have declined, and foreign exchange has been saved. Thermal power plants now have a 27-day coal stock, up from the previous average of 10–17 days. The Prime Minister, he said, personally reviews daily reports on coal stock at power plants. "Our ministry is fully prepared to meet every state's coal demand," Reddy said. He added that India is currently 100% dependent on foreign countries for critical minerals. To reduce this dependency, the Modi government has launched a Rs 32,000 crore Critical Minerals Mission and established a new PSU called KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd). Reddy informed the House that KABIL, a joint venture of National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper Ltd, and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited, has secured five rare mineral blocks in Argentina, from which India will source lithium. In Zambia, India has obtained exploration rights over 9,000 sq km for critical minerals. Addressing criticism of the Prime Minister's foreign trips, Reddy said that during a recent tour of five countries, PM Modi held significant discussions on critical minerals in each nation. "We are working in mission mode in this sector," he added. R&D efforts have been launched, and 13 offshore blocks have been identified for auction. A dedicated division within the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been created for critical mineral exploration, with responsibilities assigned across various states, including Jammu & Kashmir. He also stated that the government has finalised projects to reclaim 143 closed coal mines and is preparing to have the Rs 2 lakh crore spent from the District Mineral Fund audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). During the discussion, several members praised the Bill and offered inputs. BJP's Bheem Singh called the Bill a step to strengthen the regulatory framework for industrially and strategically significant deep-seated minerals. Milind Deora (Shiv Sena) said the Bill will allow Indian companies to invest in foreign rare mineral mines and boost domestic processing capacity, marking a step toward self-reliance in critical minerals. He also suggested encouraging green mining and recycling of old solar panels. NCP's Praful Patel urged the government to ease environmental regulations to prevent future bottlenecks. AIADMK's Thambi Durai raised concerns about illegal mining in Tamil Nadu and mentioned the arrest of a ruling party member in connection with unlawful activities. Tamil Manila Congress (M)'s GK Vasan also highlighted the issue of illegal sand mining in Tamil Nadu, which is harming the ecology and reducing state revenue. He said the groundwater level is falling due to negligence by the state government. YSR Congress's Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla welcomed the easing of rules for deep-seated mining leases, saying it will improve investment efficiency and mineral supply. Biju Janata Dal's Manas Ranjan Mangaraj demanded higher mineral royalties for Odisha. BJP's Aditya Prasad alleged that coal smuggling under the Congress-supported government in Jharkhand has hurt legal sales and claimed that a youth activist opposing illegal mining was killed in a staged encounter. While some Opposition members had submitted notices for amendments, they were absent during the session. After the Bill was passed, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day to meet tomorrow at 11 am. UNI RBE SSP

Manesar to set up 20 facilitation centres, one in each ward
Manesar to set up 20 facilitation centres, one in each ward

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Manesar to set up 20 facilitation centres, one in each ward

Gurgaon: The Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) will be soon opening citizen facilitation centres (CFCs) in each ward of Manesar. The centres will offer services like filing property tax, submitting applications for birth certificates and death certificates, paying water bills, applying for Aadhar cards, and registering marriages. The corporation currently has only one CFC. Manesar mayor Inderjeet Kaur Yadav said that apart from facilitation centres, a community centre will come up in Khoh. Moreover, eight tube wells have been approved for the water supply in Khoh. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gold Rates Today in Gurgaon | Silver Rates Today in Gurgaon The tender process is underway, and work will commence soon, she said. She also directed corporation officials to install streetlights and revamp the village pond. The mayor also said a road leading to the cremation ground in Garhi village will be constructed, and a roster for sanitation workers will be created to streamline sanitation work in the town. She instructed municipal officials to prepare a new roster of the workers responsible for cleaning ward 1, including their mobile numbers, and provide it to the councillor. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store