logo
Activists urge measures to stop felling of trees in Vattamalai Dam's water-spread area

Activists urge measures to stop felling of trees in Vattamalai Dam's water-spread area

New Indian Express21 hours ago
TIRUPPUR: The biodiversity around the Vattamalai Dam in Uthamapalayam near Vellakovil in Tiruppur district is under threat with the felling of trees in its water-spread area, allegedly for planting saplings.
Social activists urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to take appropriate action to prevent the removal of trees.
S Manikandan, a social activist from Vellakovil, said, "This small dam comes under the Amaravathi Division of the WRD, and relies on surplus water from the Parambikulam- Aliyar Project (PAP). Its water-spread area is about 800 acres."
"The water-spread area is rich in native trees, including white babul, vachellia nilotica, neem, and melia dubia. There is also Prosopis juliflora. And teak and sandalwood are also likely to be there in some places. It is also a shelter to spotted deer, foxes, wild boars, and many species of birds. Migratory birds also visit here during the seasons. For the past few days, some people have been felling existing trees and planting new saplings in the dam's water-spread areas," he added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Activists urge measures to stop felling of trees in Vattamalai Dam's water-spread area
Activists urge measures to stop felling of trees in Vattamalai Dam's water-spread area

New Indian Express

time21 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Activists urge measures to stop felling of trees in Vattamalai Dam's water-spread area

TIRUPPUR: The biodiversity around the Vattamalai Dam in Uthamapalayam near Vellakovil in Tiruppur district is under threat with the felling of trees in its water-spread area, allegedly for planting saplings. Social activists urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to take appropriate action to prevent the removal of trees. S Manikandan, a social activist from Vellakovil, said, "This small dam comes under the Amaravathi Division of the WRD, and relies on surplus water from the Parambikulam- Aliyar Project (PAP). Its water-spread area is about 800 acres." "The water-spread area is rich in native trees, including white babul, vachellia nilotica, neem, and melia dubia. There is also Prosopis juliflora. And teak and sandalwood are also likely to be there in some places. It is also a shelter to spotted deer, foxes, wild boars, and many species of birds. Migratory birds also visit here during the seasons. For the past few days, some people have been felling existing trees and planting new saplings in the dam's water-spread areas," he added.

Giant python from VTR forests enters residential area, swallows goat
Giant python from VTR forests enters residential area, swallows goat

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Time of India

Giant python from VTR forests enters residential area, swallows goat

Bettiah: A giant python, which had come out of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) forests in West Champaran district, was rescued from a residential colony of water resources department (WRD) in Valmikinagar on the India-Nepal border on Saturday, but not before it swallowed a goat, officials said. Valmikinagar ranger Amit Kumar said that they received information about a giant python seen in the colony near a powerhouse of the WRD, and that it hunted a farmer's goat. "A rescue team, along with snake expert Shankar Yadav, was sent to the spot, and rescued the giant python after some effort. The rescued python was safely released into the dense forest of the VTR," he said. A villager, Nasim Khan, said that a herd of goats was grazing behind the powerhouse when the python attacked them, after which they informed the forest department. "Many species of snakes come out in the areas adjacent to the Valmiki Tiger Reserve during rainy season. Some of these snakes are very poisonous, so we have to be careful and alert. Many times, these poisonous snakes have proven to be dangerous for us," he said. 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. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !

Water Resources Department to explore feasibility of turning Buckingham Canal into a functional waterway
Water Resources Department to explore feasibility of turning Buckingham Canal into a functional waterway

The Hindu

time4 days ago

  • The Hindu

Water Resources Department to explore feasibility of turning Buckingham Canal into a functional waterway

The Water Resources Department (WRD) will soon begin preliminary work on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to assess the feasibility of operating a water metro and developing the National Waterway-4 (NW-4) in Chennai. The project will cover the stretch of Buckingham Canal between Ennore and Marakkanam. As an initial step towards restoring the canal and improving its navigability, the WRD will take up restoration of a five-km stretch of the Central Buckingham Canal from Chepauk to Greenways Road (DGS Dinakaran Salai). The ₹31-crore project will be part of the larger plan, said the officials. The WRD will prepare the DPR with the financial assistance and consultation of Inland Waterways Authority of India, the nodal agency under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The NW-4 aims to connect Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. Officials said that while there was a technical feasibility to turn the canal into a waterway, there were several challenges, including sewage pollution, encroachments, narrow stretches, and cost. The canal should be dredged for a minimum depth of 3 m in several parts for the smooth movement of vessels. For instance, the original bed level of the Buckingham Canal is nearly 2 m below mean sea level. But, the Central Buckingham Canal has accumulated sludge up to 1 m above mean sea level, which has impeded free flow of water and affected its flood handling capacity, he said. The WRD plans to dredge the Central Buckingham Canal and increase its carrying capacity by 700 cusecs, protect the banks, and create recreational spaces at a few places. However, the project will be implemented without the need to remove encroachments. More such measures are needed to achieve the larger goal of canal restoration, the official said. 'We need a minimum width of 15 m to make it a functional waterway. However, the average width varies between 50 m and 150 m in the South and North Buckingham Canal. Building a retaining wall along Central Buckingham Canal may provide a minimum of 3 m space on both sides,' an official said. About 5,000 encroachments and a minimum of 15 sewage outfalls have been identified in the Buckingham Canal within city limits. 'We are also considering the possibility of creating shutters/tidal gates near estuaries to control flow of tidal water and maintain a particular water level in the canal,' the official added. The detailed project report would cover aspects, including ways to ensure navigability while accounting for the MRTS pillars and changing width and measures to tackle pollution in the canal.

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