: Parppalar dam in Oddanchatram will be desilted soon. Top priority was being given to improve water storage in the district said Collector T.G. Vinay.
Addressing the agriculturists’ grievance day meet here on Friday, he said tender had been floated for taking up the desilting of Parappalar dam. Meanwhile, forest officials would conduct a survey near the dam site and identify the dam area for commencing desilting work within two days. After getting consent from the Conservator of Forests, we will start desilting the dam, he added.
Earlier, farmer Rajendran said that Oddanchatram has been facing acute water crisis owing to poor storage in the Parappalar dam. Moreover, Cauvery drinking water scheme was insufficient to meet the total demand of the block. At present, storage in Parappalar was very less and it was the ideal time to desilt the dam, he pointed out.
Many farmers wanted to restore waterbodies and water sources to improve storage level and recharge the groundwater level.
The ‘natham poromboke’ land near Rajavaikal at Thekkanthottam on Kodaikanal-Palani ghat road was encroached and fenced by actor Madhavan. The government, in its reply to a RTI petition, stated that it was a public land. The court too issued directions to remove the encroachment. But the officials concerned have not taken any action till now, said farmers Ganesan and Kamalakannan of Palani. The Collector advised the officials to look in to the issue.
The height of limited use subways constructed by the Railways near Semmadaipatti and K. Pudukottai was very less. and it should be raised to 17 feet for facilitating vehicle movement to enable farmers to transport agri produces to nearby market, said farmers from Pukukottai.
Reacting to farmers’ appeal to provide insurance cover to onion, banana and chillies, Joint Director of Agriculture M. Thangasamy said that proposals had been sent to the government to include more crops.
