THANJAVUR: Peoples's participation in Kudimaramathu works in which big lakes are desilted, has given hope of restoring big water resources in Thanjavur district.
Periyakulam in Peravurani taluk is a big lake with an area of 564 acres. People of this area and political parties like CPI (M) appealed to district authorities and PWD to desilt the lake but in vain. Youth and people of this area formed an association “Orunginaintha kadaimadai paguthi vivasayigal sangam” (Integrated tail end farmers association) and started desilting the lake. The work is going on for the past 32 days said the youth of the area.
Meanwhile, people of Ponnankannikadu village near the lake joined together and pooled money to the tune of Rs 1,51,501 under the banner Kopi Pongal Vizha Kuzhu and gave this amount to the tail end farmers association for meeting expenses incurred in desilting the lake on Thursday.
S.S.Palanimanickam, Thanjavur MP, welcomed the gesture and interest shown by youth and people of the area. There are many big lakes like this in this area which have a capacity of 500 acres, 300 acres and 250 acres. They should be desilted and renovated to store water he said.
The PWD has taken up Kudimaramathu works involving farmers at many places. According to Anandan, assistant executive engineer of PWD, who took presspersons on tour to some areas in Ammapettai panchayat union and Thiruvaiyaru area on Thursday, Rs 20.31 crore worth of works are going on in this area.
Reconstruction of sluices, bed dam, desilting and strengthening of bunds are going on at Sembukapuram branch canal at Raramuthirakottai village in Papanasam taluk at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Kaliapuram lake in Valamarkottai village in Ammapettai union is being desilted at a cost of Rs 30 lakh. Korai drainage canal, Angadi drainage canal, and Rajendrapuram canal are being desilted in Thirupunthuruthi area.
