The Hindu 29.06.2010
Concern over groundwater level
Staff Reporter
| Government urged to build check dams across Tamirabarani |
Nagercoil: The farmers and people in and around Kuzuthurai here have apprehensive about the fast depletion of groundwater level.
They urged the Government to construct check dams across the Tamirabarani to ensure adequate supply of potable water to them and water for irrigation.
The Tamirabarani originates from the Agasthiyar Koodam hills and passes through the central part of Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks of the district and finally reaches the river at Thengapattinam.
The river is the water source for more than 50 integrated water supply schemes and there are more than 200 wells in the river, from which water is drawn to be distributed after purification.
Potable water from this river is being supplied to most of the people in different parts of the district from the water drawn from the river with the implementation of various water supply schemes.
A causeway was constructed in the Tamirabarani, between Kzuthurai and Vettoonthi, some 75 years ago by the then British government. The length of this causeway is 200 feet and the width is 20 feet.
The then British rulers also constructed two ‘venced causeways' under the main causeway, which served as the outlet of water from this river to its tributaries and channels for drinking and irrigation.
However, both venced causeways and the causeway were damaged owing to the indiscriminate illegal quarrying of river sand.
A few years back, the officials carried out some maintenance work, but in vain.
Again these venced causeways and the main cause way were unfit for the usage by the public. The Government had been allocating huge amount for the desilting of various rivers, renovation of water bodies and for the construction of check dams.
Hence, it was the high time for the district administration to construct check dams at Kuzuthurai.
