The Hindu : `Struggle for water will be a thing of the past'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

`Struggle for water will be a thing of the past'

By T. Ramakrishnan

An anaicut being built at Lakshmipuram in Ponneri taluk — Photo: M. Moorthy

CHENNAI JULY 23. Balachandar and Kuppa Reddy, farmers of Ponneri taluk on the northern fringes of Chennai, are now hopeful that their struggle for water will be over in a matter of months. At worst, in a year.

In the last decade, they saw the groundwater table depleting rapidly. They had to sink borewells up to a depth of more than 100 feet to get water, which was earlier struck at 30 or 40 feet. Moreover, the threat of seawater ingress has been looming large. In the nearby Minjur area, sea water intrusion has extended up to about 10 km inland.

But, now thanks to an anaicut being built at Lakshmipuram across the Araniar, Ponneri farmers are confident of putting behind them the ``miserable past''. Happy days will be back soon, hopes Balachandar.

Nine years ago too, Lakshmipuram was in the news. But, for wrong reasons. An anaicut, existent then, collapsed in November 1994 in the wake of floods. But what actually caused the collapse of the three-decades-old structure was indiscriminate sand quarrying at and around the irrigation facility. ``Subsequently, our water problems began'', says Kuppa Reddy.

Begun in March this year, work on the new anaicut is proposed to be completed in 18 months. ``We plan to cover the major portion of the work before the onset of the northeast monsoon in October, and the rest of the work by March next'', says an official of the Public Works Department, which is overseeing the execution. On completion, the anaicut will ensure irrigation for 1,550 hectares.

``We will be able to produce 9,300 tonnes of foodgrains every year'', says Balachandar.

The facility will be able to handle floods to the tune of 50,000 cusecs (cubic foot per second) in the 130-km-long Araniar. In fact, it can replenish groundwater resources to the extent of 300 mcft (million cubic feet).

As part of the work, the banks of the river will be strengthened over a stretch of three km, the supply channel desilted for seven km and channel lined for one km.

Four decades ago (1964-65) when the old anaicut was built, the Government spent around Rs. 8.2 lakhs.

Now, a similar structure costs Rs. 5.3 crores.

The contract value of the project has been calculated at Rs. 3.95 crores, with which the anaicut, strengthening of the flood banks and construction of the inlet point will be executed. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development sanctioned Rs.4.4 crores a year ago for the project.

The State Government will meet the remaining portion of the required funds for minor aspects including provision of shutters and towards establishment cost, says the PWD official.

The farmers suggest that a checkdam also be constructed across the Araniar at Athmangeri Reddypalayam, about five km downstream, to recharge the groundwater table.

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