Latest news with #Athikadavu-Avinashi
New Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- New Indian Express
WRD steps in as sewage pollutes 100-acre pond in TN's Cheyur village
TIRUPPUR: A severe case of water pollution has come to light in Cheyur village in Tiruppur. A 100-acre pond here which is relied on for drinking water needs and agriculture has become unusable with the mixing of sewage. The Water Resources Department (WRD) is now planning to send a proposal to prevent the influx of sewage into the pond following a petition filed on behalf of the public to the 'Mudhalvarin Mugavari' department. K Balraj, a farmer of Cheyur village, said, "The pond belonging to the WRD is on the Kunnathur road. It is a major source of water for our village, nearby villages, farmlands, and settlements within a radius of about 5 km. Although the pond benefits from the Athikadavu- Avinashi project, it currently has very low water storage. As there is not inadequate water flow in the Bhavani River, there is no water supply to our pond through the project." "As sewage from local settlements enters the pond the groundwater in our village and nearby villages has been polluted. The water sometimes smells bad. People use borewell water for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. We have sent a petition to the Mudhalvarin Mugavari department, urging the government to take action to prevent sewage from mixing in the pond." K Ramasamy, another farmer from the village, said, "The pond is currently lacking adequate maintenance. A major part of the pond is occupied by Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora). The government should take appropriate steps to remove this invasive plant and properly maintain the pond. The boundaries of the pond need to be redefined. Some places on the banks are occupied." K Arul Azhagan, Executive Engineer of WRD, said, "Appropriate measures will be taken to remove Prosopis juliflora from the pond and prevent sewage from mixing with it. A proposal in this regard will be prepared soon and sent to the head of the department."
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers in Western region disappointed over ‘reluctance' of State government to take up Phase-II of Athikadavu-Avinashi project
Farmers in Coimbatore-Tiruppur belt have expressed disappointment over what they describe as the 'reluctance' of the State government to carry out phase II project of Athikadavu-Avinashi project, to carry forward the momentum of the positive outcome of phase I. The ₹1916.41-crore project in phase I initiated during August 2024 is now serving the intended purpose of irrigating 24,468 acres in Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts. The pipelines laid under the project to distribute 1.5 tmc of surplus water diverted from the downstream of the Kalingarayan Anicut in Bhavani river has enabled irrigation through 1,045 connected waterbodies in the drought-prone parts of the three districts. In Thoravalur village in Avinashi taluk, for instance, paddy cultivation had been revived after over five decades owing to the water supplied through pipelines to the tanks under the phase I scheme, said Athikadavu Sampath, a long-time activist for implementation of the scheme. Farmers are eagerly looking forward to implementation of phase-II of the project, thereby connecting an additional 1,400 water bodies through underground pipelines, and bringing an additional 15,000 acres under tank water irrigation. 'We have been urging the elected representatives from the western region to raise the issue in the Assembly rising above political considerations,' Mr. Sampath said. Pipelines under Phase I were laid to a length of 1,065 km across the three districts to link 32 lakes of Water Resources Department, and 42 lakes and 971 ponds under Panchayat Unions. 'The Phase I has delivered the intended outcome. Under Phase II, there is a dire need to include the water bodies in drought-prone areas in Karamadai block and Sarkar Samakulam,' said 'Vellakinar' Kalisamy, president of Chinnavedampatti Eri Padukappu Vivasayigal Sangam. 'We also look upon the Water Resources Department to come out with guidelines on water utilisation under Phase I. The desire of farmers is that the WRD should explore ways to connect additional water bodies under Phase I,' Mr. Kalisamy emphasised. A senior official of Water Resources Department said there was, as such, no proposal under consideration for Phase II of the project.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers, residents oppose greenfield road project in Annur
Farmers and residents of Annur area registered their 'strong protest' at an investigation on Wednesday regarding a greenfield, six-lane road from Kurumbapalayam to Sathyamangalam. A federation representing those who oppose the project said at the meeting that 90% of the owners of land identified for the project are not willing to give their land for the road work. The federation opposed the 3 A published for the road project and special DRO for the project is conducting the investigation. 'Though the greenfield road is seen as one connecting two States, it will never serve its purpose because it will be a toll road passing through a tiger sanctuary where movement of vehicles is restricted,' it said. Further, this was a project dropped by the National Highways Authority of India but taken up by the State Highways (NH wing). A parallel road has been widened for ₹74 crore and can be widened further. A flyover can be constructed at Annur to ease traffic congestion. The greenfield project entitles acquisition of vast tracts of land and hence the NHAI had suggested alternatives. Since the commissioning of the Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme, farming has increased in Annur area. The road proposed will disrupt a lot of agriculture activity in Annur and nearby areas, it said. Nearly 200 people from Annur area participated in the meeting on Wednesday.
