The Hindu 03.05.2013
Cleaning of two tanks begins
An initiative that can go a long way in recharging
groundwater level began here on Thursday — a Rs. 2.5-crore project to
remove silt from Ukkadam Big Tank and Singanallur Tank.
Ukkadam Big Tank is spread across 320 acres and has a water storage capacity of 60 million cubic ft.
Its
present water storage capacity is down to 30 per cent because of silt
accumulation, said Vanita Mohan, vice-president of Residents Awareness
Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) that got sanction from District
Collector M. Karunagaran to clean the two water bodies. Singanallur Tank
has an area of 269.27 acres.
Ukkadam Big Tank gets water via Coimbatore anicut from Selvachinthamani Tank, for which River Noyyal is the source.
The
original design, she says, ensured the water flow from Noyyal filled up
several tanks and check dams via anaicuts before returning to the river
itself.
Over the years, silt accumulation has disrupted both the inflow and outflow of water to the tanks.
Silt removed would be used to construct bunds.
“The work will be completed in May,” said Ms. Vanita Mohan.
Islands
The
silt would be used to create islands to grow trees through ‘Vegetative
Propagation,’ a form of asexual reproduction in plants in which the
growth is quicker.
“We will plant indigenous species of trees, which are rich in fruits and have plenty of branches to attract birds to nest.
Through the Vegetative Propagation process, we expect the plants to be fully grown in an year or so,” said Mrs. Vanita Mohan.
Four such islands were being planned now, she said.