Seven check dams in region die a slow death

Coimbatore: With perpetual sound of splashing water and refreshing aura of green plants, the Singanallur check dam was once a favourite picnic spot for many. But today, filled with water hyacinth grown in black water, it gives a dismal look. Its wall is broken and rocks are displaced.
“When I was a kid, the families in and around the check dam used to celebrate Pongal there. With most of the time fresh water flowing in the channel, it used to be one of the favourite places to spend with family. But, now we rarely visit the channel,” said N Murugam, 50, one of the farmers living near the check dam. “In the past ten years, water in the channel was made useless as sewage and industrial effluent are constantly released into it,” Murugan said.

RV Manikandan of Kovai Kulangal Pathukappu Amaippu, an environmental organization, said, “It is not just the case of one check dam. About seven check dams in the region are in more or less the same condition. One of the major issues is that sewage water is directly let into all these channels.”

The members of the organization, along with volunteers, visited seven check dams, including Singanallur, Odderpalayam, Semmandampalayam, Samalapuram and the Andipalayam check dam in Tirupur, on its 100th week of volunteering work to clean these water bodies.

“Though colour of the water in Semmandampalayam, Samalapuram and Andipalayam check dams is not as bad as in Singanallur, livestock had stopped drinking water in these check dams,” Manikandan said, adding, “It might be due to mixture of sewage and industrial effluent into the channels.” The organization has planned to test water samples from the check dams to know the pollution levels.

“All the check dams are damaged and it should be repaired. With the fund that the state government had allotted every year to Public Works Department (PWD), who is incharge of taking care of water bodies, it is impossible to maintain all the lakes and check dams. The fund should be increased,” Manikandan said.

Hidden from the public view, the check dams have become a nest for people who involve in anti-social activities, he said. “To avoid this, they should be revamped to attract visitors. A team from the organization will work to restore the check dams,” he added.

V Kangalakshmi, 33, one of the volunteers, who came along with her family members, said, “We are not just spending our days productively through the work, but also knowing more about our city.”