Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122351200300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

Town panchayat constructs pond to meet water needs

Staff Reporter

— PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN.

Solution: Pond constructed at Muthukavundanvalasu in Kanjikovil Town Panchayat is expected to help recharge ground water and provide water for cultivation during summer.

ERODE: Kanjikovil Town Panchayat has been looking for ways to solve the drinking water problem in Muthukavundanvalasu village and also provide water for agriculture.

The State Government has provided Rs. 5 lakh for development works under the Anaithu Peruratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam (APAMT) and land, which was under encroachment.

The town panchayat chairman S. Easwaramoorthy said that the local body decided to free the land of encroachments, tap the rain and LBP Canal seepage water that flowed in the area and convert it into a pond.

The town panchayat council passed a resolution and recovered 3.64 hectares of lands, he added.

As the work started the town panchayat felt that it required additional funds, and asked the district administration, which sanctioned Rs. 7 lakh under the Collector’s Discretionary Fund for rain-water harvesting.

The local body dug 36,500 cubic metres to create a pond of about 4 feet deep, into which waters from Poochampathi and Kolathanvalasu canals flowed.

To store the water, the Kanjikovil local body built a six-foot wall, taking the total pond depth to over 10 feet.

Assistant Director of Town Panchayats K. Jambunathan said the town panchayat completed the work recently and the pond is brimming with water.

For cultivation

Mr. Easwaramoorthy, said it will solve the drinking water needs of the village as the ground water will get recharged. He is also hopeful that the pond will meet the cultivation needs during the summer.

The Kanjikovil town panchayat has also earned Rs. 45,000 by auctioning the fishing rights of the pond.

“This being the first year, they auctioned the rights for such a meagre amount. From next year, the panchayat hopes to earn at least Rs. 1 lakh from auctioning the fishing rights," Mr. Easwaramoorthy said.