Speaker releases water from flood carrier channel check-dam to irrigation tanks, Nambiyar Dam

The breach that occurred in the flood carrier channel dug to take surplus water by linking Tamirabharani – Karumeniyar – Nambiya at Thediyoor near Palayamkottai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu released water from the flood carrier channel check dam at Kariyandi near Nanguneri in the district for irrigation tanks and Nambiyar dam on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after releasing water from the Kariyandi check dam, he said over 10,700 million cubic feet of surplus water from Tamirabharani River is going waste into the sea every year. Hence, the 75-km-long flood carrier channel was dug to take this surplus water by linking Tamirabharani – Karumeniyar – Nambiyar to the rain shadow regions of Nanguneri, Radhapuram and Thisaiyanvilai, all in Tirunelveli district, and Sattankulam and Udangudi in Thoothukudi district, to rejuvenate farming and improve groundwater table in this region since seawater intruding into these areas had badly affected the groundwater quality.

After being inaugurated by the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in 2009, work on this project was shelved when the AIADMK came to power in 2011. However, the scheme was resurrected by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin in 2021, who allotted ₹1,060 for digging the channel and giving compensation for the land acquired for this project, which starts at Kannadiyan Channel at Vellankuzhi and ends at M.L. Theri near Sattankulam.

While 904.49 hectares of ‘patta’ land and 144.32 hectare government poramboke lands were acquired in Tirunelveli district, 157.42 hectare ‘patta’ lands and 4.80 hectare poramboke lands were acquired in Thoothukudi district for benefiting 32 revenue villages in Tirunelveli district and 18 villages in Thoothukudi district.

Besides improving the groundwater table, the water being drawn from the flood carrier channel would irrigate 23,040 hectares – 14,084.98 hectares in Tirunelveli district and 9,855 hectare in Thoothukudi district.

“Of the 1,600 cusecs of water being released in the flood carrier channel now, 390 cusecs is diverted to Karumaeniyar, 255 cusecs for Suviseshapuram tank, 435 cusecs for M.L. Theri, 500 cusecs for Vijayanarayanam tank and Nambiyar dam and 20 cusecs for Thinaiyoorani tank,” Mr. Appavu said.

Srivaikundam MLA ‘Oorvasi’ S. Amirtharaj, Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department Thirumalaikumar and others were present.

Meanwhile, a crack developed in the bund along the check dam across the flood carrier channel at Thediyoor near Palayamkottai triggering panic among the villagers. The water gushing out from the hole has inundated over 200 acres of land where paddy and plantain have been cultivated.

On getting information, the Public Works Department officials inspected the breach and their efforts to plug the rupture with sandbags failed. “The breach can be plugged only after water coming to the check dam is controlled,” the PWD officials said even as efforts were on to minimise the flow of water to the check dam.