A few barrages technically feasible
An unusually surplus year turns spotlight on barrages across Kollidam and lays stress on environment impact studies on flood carriers.
Thanjavur: It was a poll promise of AIADMK that barrages will be constructed across Kollidam river to save water. The promise was made by none other than former chief minister late J. Jayalalithaa during her election campaign.
Accordingly, a project for construction of a barrage across Kollidam between Adhanur in Cuddalore district and Kumarapalayam in Nagapattinam district was conceived and a sum of Rs 400 crore was also allotted for the purpose. But it has not yet taken off. Jayalalithaa herself approved the project and government order was also issued, said Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary of Thanjavur district Cauvery farmers protection association.
“For soil test, a sum of Rs 30 lakh was allotted and technically also, engineers said that it is feasible,” said Vimalanathan.
His association has been demanding from 1991 that barrages should be constructed across Kollidam to save water.
“Government also considered construction of barrages at seven places i.e. Nochiyam in Tiruchy district, Koogur in Thanjavur district, Thirumazhapadi, Elakurichi, Kamarasavalli in Ariyalur district, Kudiathangi, Kodalikaruppur and the above said Kumarapalayam in Nagapattinam district. But it is unfortunate that the present chief minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami is saying that barrages are not possible in Kollidam and delta. We demand taking up some of these projects so that water may be saved during surplus years,” said Vimalanathan, who organised an agitation recently in this connection at Kumbakonam.
“Government has earned criticism from farmers for not managing water properly and efficiently this year. Though PWD has released a long list of rivers and days to be taken for water to reach tail-end areas in these rivers, it is not a static one. In surplus years water may reach in less number of days prescribed by PWD as its velocity and volume will break all barriers. Only thing is government has not prepared the water bodies to receive water, that too surplus water, by not properly taking up desilting and maintenance works and ‘kudimaramathu’ works. Whether nature is bountiful or not, a proper water management plan will keep the delta fertile, control floods and utilise surplus in all years,” added Mr Vimalanathan.