The state-wide drive, touted to be one of the biggest measure introduced by Edappadi K Palaniswami after assuming office as Chief Minister, is a damp squib and was introduced at a time when even in many places the desilting of water-bodies that commenced in the previous year of 2016 was not completed.

Most of the farmers in the delta region have expressed dissatisfaction over the works initiated in the project and it was yet to take off in many areas. In such a situation if water is released it is unlikely to flow freely even through the canals, leave alone reaching the farms.

According to farmers, there were 49,200 water-bodies once across the state, of which 10,000 were used for different needs of the community and the remaining 9,200, including lakes and ponds, were abandoned owing to lack of maintenance, renovation or desilting process. Interestingly, funds were allocated each year for their upkeep.

As per rules, official should ensure that maintenance and desilting of the ponds were carried out in a systematic manner and at periodic intervals, so that water can be stored during monsoon. The farmers calculated that each pond supply water to around 700 to 1500 irrigation wells based on its size. And each well can irrigate an area of a minimum of 12,000 acres approximately.

In the absence of regular desilting process, these water-bodies failed to store actual volume of water and the canals could not see free flow of water when water was discharged from the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur. This apathy apart, most of the water-bodies in delta region use to have inlet and outlet, besides system tanks from where the excess will flow to another tank. “If these system tanks are not desilted, the flow can’t reach the tail end areas. A proper government authority interested in the farmers should monitor the desilt works”, said Swamimalai Sundara Vimalnathan, Cauvery Delta Farmers Protection Association.

While, P Ayyakkannu, state president, Desiya Thenninthiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, said, already the southwest monsoon has become active in Kerala and in majority areas of Karnataka and it is predicted that the trend will continue at the same level. So, it is expected that there will be good flow in most of the canals.

As their condition is poor, the chances of making best use of the monsoon flow appears to be bleak. Hence, it is high time that the government desilts the canals on a war-footing. Meanwhile, Ayilai Siva Suriyan, Tiruchy district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (affiliated to CPI) said, Uyyankondan canal in Tiruchy was the main water resource in the district. It has around 17 sub canals but all of them are choked with garbage and slush. The government was yet to act, he lamented.

Though, the government’s decision to allow removal of the vandal soil (silt) from water-bodies as part of Kudimaramathu works would be a farmer friendly project as the silt removed from the water bodies would act as a pure nutrient to the barren land it also has some hidden problems. “The portion from where the silt is being removed are spread on the vacant land. It is clandestine attempt to encourage real estate activities as the areas could be divided into residential plots. 

Though the beneficiaries are advised to remove silt only one metre depth, they go even beyond 10 metre depth. This may pose a threat to the water-body itself as it may lose the strength to store water,” explains Vimalnathan. While in Nagapattinam, for the past 20 years, no dredging and desilting activities was carried out on the Pazhangavery canal near Mayiladuthurai. 

The canal besides serving as a flood carrier once functioned as a supply canal to recharge as many as 80 water-bodies in the town for centuries.