TIRUCHY: While the desilting of irrigation canals in the district under the PWD’s special scheme was launched last month, work actually picked up steam last week. Water Resources Department (WRD) officials, however, expressed hope of the works taken up at a cost of Rs 15.87 crore to be completed ahead of the release of Cauvery water from Mettur dam for aiding irrigation of kuruvai cultivation in the delta region.
A senior PWD-WRD official said, "Desilting of major irrigation canals has been taken up under the scheme. The works were launched by Ministers KN Nehru and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on April 30 but they commenced only last week.” Irrigation canals, including the stretch of the Uyyakondan canal between Pettavaithalai and its tail-end and the New Kattalai High Level Canal (NKHLC), are some of the major canals in which desilting works are underway, the official added. Other important canals include Nandiyar Kuvalaiyar drainage channel, Ramavathalai, Palla Vaikal, Kuvalaiyar basin and new Ayyan Canal, he further said.
K Manivasagam has been appointed the monitoring officer for the desilting works in the district. A total of 100 ‘uzhavar kuzhus’ comprising PWD officials, VAOs, farmers, panchayat clerks and assistant agricultural officers would also oversee the desilting works. This would ensure local participation in the desilting works, the PWD-WRD official said.
Meanwhile, desilting works in Tiruchy city would be undertaken in the final stages as the Uyyakondan canal is overridden with weeds. There is a separate procedure to clear them which would be possible only during the time when Cauvery water is released, the official said. Farmer leader Aylai Siva Suriyan said, "While desilting, old pathways of the canals should be taken into consideration and sub-canals of the major irrigation canals should also be desilted."