Reclaim lost storage capacity of reservoirs, appeal State farmers
The farmers have requested the State government to permit them to excavate the silt that will be used to enrich their land
CHENNAI: Amidst the fast depletion of water levels in reservoirs in the State this summer, there is growing demand from stakeholders to the Tamil Nadu government to desilt the reservoirs and major waterbodies to reclaim the lost storage capacity.
As of date, the water storage level has declined to zero per cent in eight reservoirs, while the live storage of five reservoirs has reduced to less than 1 per cent of their respective storage capacity. They were among the 90 reservoirs in the State that have a cumulative storage capacity of 224.297 thousand cubic metres (tmc).
In the present scenario, the Delta farmers and other parts of the State have demanded the government take up war footing measures to desilt the reservoirs.
State Executive Member of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam D Mullai said that they have been demanding the government to desilt and deepen the reservoirs, tanks, but the government and the authorities concerned are not heeding their demands.
“The farmers have also requested the government to permit them to excavate the silt that will be used to enrich their land and also improve the storage capacity in dams and tanks. But their demands have also been turned down,” he said.
Joining the farmers, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Prof MH Jawahirullah and Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi leader ER Eswaran have also flagged the issue and urged the government to take up the cause expeditiously.
“We carried out a feasibility study on desilting and deepening of Mettur Reservoir, one of the largest reservoirs in the State with a storage capacity of 93.47 tmc, and submitted the report more than a year ago,” said an official, preferring anonymity. He, however, said that it did not turn into action to date.
A similar study has been taken up to look into the feasibility of desilting Willingdon Reservoir in Cuddalore district. However, reliable sources in the department said that projects would not be taken up anytime soon, given the financial constraints of the State.