MoEF okays desilting of Srivaikundam dam

Chennai: Good news for farmers of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts.The Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF & CC) has finally granted in principle clearance for de-silting the 150-year-old Srivaikundam dam, the only reservoir across the Tamiraparani river. If de silted, the dam can store eight tmcft more.  During the northeast monsoon, Tamiraparani is in floods and nearly  20 TMC of water is wasted into the sea due to the delay in desilting the dam.   

Built by the British, Srivaikundam dam had not been de-silted even once. As  a result,  its capacity  plummeted to 0.3 tmcft from its total capacity of eight tmcft affecting irrigation in one lakh acres. For years, MoEF, which holds a 100-year lease, refused to give the green signal for the de-silting project stating that the reservoir was  located within reserved land and that hundreds of trees may have to be cut.

However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) here came down heavily on the ministry stating that non-granting of clearance was unreasonable. In the order of June 5,  the tribunal’s judicial member Justice P. Jyothimani fixed  June 10 as deadline for MoEF to grant clearance. In the event of failure to grant clearance, the Tamil Nadu government should  proceed with de-silting activities without touching any tree,  anticipating MoEF’s approval.

After the severe drubbing, MoEF on June 10 conveyed to the Principal Secretary, Tamil Nadu Government that it was granting in-principle for diversion of 22.976 hectares in Srivaikundam reserve for carrying out de-silting works in the water spread area. A copy of environmental clearance is available with the Deccan Chronicle. Now, the public works department (PWD) and the district administration of Thoothukudi are preparing to take-up the project on a war-footing and complete it before the monsoon.

Special government Pleader Abdul Saleem, who appeared for PWD before NGT, said the forest clearance came with certain conditions. “We have to fulfill them before taking up the de-silting work and the authorities are at it. The work will start very shortly”. A senior official in Thoothukudi district administration said district collector M. Ravi Kumar was personally on to the project and determined to complete de-silting work before the rainy season.

The primary condition of MoEF is that no standing tree should be felled and the legal status of forest land should remain unchanged. Also, the user agency shall deposit Rs. 25 lakh with the District Forest Officer, Thoothukudi. A joint committee of revenue, forest and PWD officials should be constituted under the chairmanship of the DFO, which will oversee the collection and disposal of the material excavated and compliance of condition of approval.

The MoEF also said the in-principle approval is valid for 12 months from the date of clearance. In the event of non compliance of conditions, the approval would automatically stand revoked. S. Joel, petitioner before the NGT, an advocate and district secretary of MDMK, expressed happiness over the development and said the authorities should now waste no time.