Date:30/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/30/stories/2007123058310100.htm

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Encroachments leave tanks bone dry

K. Raju

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Big puddle now: A tank at Meenakshinaickenpatti near Dindigul.

DINDIGUL: Despite torrential rain and flash floods, several tanks and a dam in the district are completely dry owing to encroachment of supply canals. The worst affected is Kudaganar dam that had 25 feet of water (total storage 26 feet). Over 20 feet of water was drained in one-and- a-half days owing to damage to the dam’s first shutter.

There are 2,451 panchayat tanks and seven big tanks maintained by Public Works Department in the district.

A total of 175 tanks were damaged in the recent flood and water had drained drastically, according to official estimate.

Villagers broke bunds of several tanks to drain excess water. In some tanks, bund breaches developed in 2004-floods were not sealed properly. The recent rain has worsened the condition of Meera Rowther tank, Achari tank and Raja tank near N. Perumalkovilpatti.

There is no water in these tanks owing to encroachments and damage to supply canals. Bunds of these tanks were washed away in 2004. Officials carried out temporary repairs to plug the breaches then. Once again, they were breached in the recent rain and the entire storage was drained out. Hopes of farmers to raise at least one crop in rain-fed land had been shattered.

Even as Nilakottai taluk recorded 140 mm of rain, five major tanks — Kongar Kulam, Manavarathi tank, Seeragampatti tank, Silukkuvarpatti big tank and Pillayarnatham big tank — have no water owing to encroachment in supply canals. Over 500 acres of cultivable land remain barren this year. Works to rectify damage to tanks were in progress, officials said.