Latest news with #WaterResourceDepartment
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Farmers in TN urge dredging of PAP main canal to curb water wastage before release to fourth zone
TIRUPPUR: Farmers in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts who are benefitting from the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) have urged the Water Resource Department (WRD) to dredge its entire main canal before opening water to the fourth zone to prevent wastage. The 124-kilometre-long main canal starts from the Thirumoorthy Dam located in Udumalaipet in Tiruppur district and ends at Vellakovil on the border of Tiruppur district. About 3.77 lakh acres coming under PAP is divided into four irrigation zones. The fourth zone comprises around 94,000 acres of farmlands from mile 1 to 124 of the main canal. S Paramasivam, Tiruppur District President of Tamil Nadu Coconut Farmers Association, said, "PAP irrigates around 4.25 acres of agricultural land in Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts. Out of which, about 3.77 lakh acres are irrigated by water from the Thirumoorthy Dam." "The main canal has branch and distributary canals extending to more than 1,000 km. Around 75% of the main canal is currently in a damaged state. In addition, in most places, the distributary and branch canals are also in a damaged state. Due to this, water wastage is high. Previously, a round of water would be distributed for only 21 days. Currently, it takes 29 days for one round of water supply due to water wastage," he added.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Monitoring officer reviews desilting and widening of waterbodies in Kanniyakumari
Kanniyakumari District Monitoring Officer Hanish Chabbra conducted a meeting with the department officials on Wednesday to assess the progress of desilting and widening of waterbodies, being carried out across the district. During the meeting Mr. Chabbra informed that Kanniyakumari district comprises a total 724 waterbodies. Among them Agasteeswaram taluk has six, Thovalai 52, Kalkulam 239, Thiruvattar 99, Vilavancode 233 and Killiyoor has 95 waterbodies. Of these 443 water bodies are managed by the Water Resource Department, 234 by town panchayats and 47 by village panchayats. He emphasised the desilting of these waterbodies through joint efforts involving government, NGO's and farmers associations under schemes such as 'Namakku Naame.' He noted that such efforts would benefit farmers significantly and help improve the groundwater level. Additionally, Mr Chabbra pointed out that proper maintenance of waterbodies would prevent flooding in residential areas during disasters. He instructed that all waterbodies must be cleared of debris, bushes and encroachments before the onset of monsoon. Executive Engineers of the Public Works Department have been assigned the responsibility of regularly monitoring these water bodies. Also by doing this, water was prevented from entering residential areas during disaster times and these waterbodies should be monitored by the executive engineers of the PWD department. All the waterbodies must be cleared of debris, bushes and encroachments before the onset of monsoon. He also directed the officials to permit farmers to take topsoil from tanks during the desilting process, as it would be useful for agricultural purposes. District Collector R. Alagumeena, District Revenue Officer J. Balasubramanian, Padmanabhapuram Sub Collector Vinay Kumar Meena and other officials were present at the meeting.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
‘Stop sewage flow into Kiruthumal river': Farmers federation
MADURAI: Urging the Water Resource Department (WRD) to carry out maintenance works and prevent sewage release into the Kiruthumal river, farmers associated with the Cauvery Vaigai, Kiruthumal Gundar Irrigation Farmers Federation submitted a petition to the WRD officials on Tuesday. M Arjunan, deputy secretary of the Farmers Federation, said, "The Kiruthumal river is centuries old and flows nearly 86 kilometers from Madurai, Sivagangai, Viruthunagar, to Ramanathapuram. There are over seven shutter dams in the river, and it connects to nearly 73 irrigation tanks, which irrigate over 17,315.51 hectares of cultivation areas. Despite being such an important river, it has been left unmaintained for years. A large amount of sewage is released into the river, and the branch canals of the river are also filled with Seemai Karuvelam trees and invasive plants." Farmers said that the WRD department should maintain the canal connecting the Viraganur dam to the Krithumal river and widen it to allow 5,000 cubic meters of water to flow through it. Invasive plants and encroachments must also be cleared. Pointing out intense sewage release and garbage dumping into the river, farmers urged the WRD department to take criminal action against the individuals and local bodies, including the Madurai corporation, for releasing pollutants that affect the river. Official sources from the WRD department stated that tenders were floated earlier to carry out works in the river, and those works are being undertaken to address the farmers' issue.
