Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore

Set up panel for better water management practices: G.K. Mani

CUDDALORE: With Tamil Nadu losing its riparian rights in the Cauvery, the Palar and in the Mullaperiyar waters a desperate need has arisen to revive agriculture in the State, said G.K.Mani, president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Mani said Tamil Nadu was blessed with many rivers such as the Vaigai, the Pennaiyar, the Gedilam, the Vellar and the Manimtharu.

Yet, the rivers that were in spate during monsoon used to get completely drained into the sea, thereby not bringing any substantial benefit to the people. As the agriculture area was dwindling in inverse proportion to population growth there was an imminent threat of Tamil Nadu facing food shortage in the near future.

While the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments were constantly developing the irrigation prospects the Tamil Nadu government was lagging far behind in this aspect. Hence, Mr. Mani called upon the government to construct check-dams at the interval of every five km along the course of these rivers to recharge the groundwater.

Besides, canals could also be constructed to carry the water to the tanks and lakes and if this were done the irrigation prospects could be improved manifold and the runoff could be drastically reduced, he said.

He also urged the government to constitute a committee comprising hydrologists and progressive farmers to evolve better water management practices.

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