Desilting of canals commences in Krishnagiri

A massive desilting project of Badethalavu lake in Poosaripatti in Krishnagiri block entailing desilting of 18 km length of canals to fill up over 13 lakes was launched here by District Collector C. Dinesh Kumar. The works are slated for completion within two weeks.

The district administration is steadily desilting lakes availing corporate partnership through CSR funds and filling them up with the continuing monsoonal rains.

Badethalavu lake is spread over 163 acres and holds capacity of 85.35 million cb.ft. The inflow into the lake will eventually fill up Vennampalli lake, Sundapatty lake, Orappam Chinneri, Perieri, Balinayanapalli lake, Rasipalli lake, Kettu lake, Sentharapalli lake, Narayanappan lake, Modikuppam lake, Nakkalpatti lake, Bayaskana lake, and Kaatakaram Kasimkhan lake, in Bargur union through canals spanning a length of 18 kms.

Speaking on the project, Mr. Kumar said, the canals are being desilted using 15 different types of desilting vehicles and machinery. Water from the rivulets of Markandeyan river, Thadatharai river and Nachikuppam river reach Badethalavu lake through Marasandhiram check dam.

Badethalavu lake is currently filled up to 50% of its capacity. The desilting works will be completed within two weeks and the lake will be filled up.

The Collector has actively engaged corporates to use their CSR funds for desilting of canals enabling filling up of the lakes. Desilting works are under way to fill up 28 lakes between Balekuli to Sandhoor. Similarly, desilting of water bodies, removal of encroachments and water hyacinths has been expedited.

The works on the Ennekolputhur dam is being expedited and will be readied by the next monsoons, when the waters of Thenpennai will be harvested through the Ennekolputhur canal to fill up Badethalavu lake, said Collector Dinesh Kumar here.

Filling up of water bodies

In Krishnagiri, 600 of the 1,097 lakes under the Rural Development Department are full to the brim; 300 lakes are half full; and works are under way to fill up 200 lakes. Under the Water Resources Department, of the 87 lakes, 77 lakes are full and works are undertaken to fill up 10 more lakes. These are works are being taken up using CSR funds, he added.