‘Periaruvi,' a defunct reservoir situated off remote Kadumeetanpatti near Kottampatti in the district, will have a new lease of life soon, following the visit of Collector C. Kamaraj to the site on Thursday.
Following farmers' representation to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri recently to revive the reservoir with a capacity of 23.6 mcft, Mr. Kamaraj and Public Works Department (PWD) engineers visited the site for an on-the-spot study.
The Periaruvi stream originates from Alagarmalai Hills and runs through Kesampatti in Melur taluk, feeding 25 tanks. The reservoir was formed in a valley between Alagarmalai Hills and Mundanmalai, 2.41 km away from Arukkampatti, PWD officials said.
It could be reached only through a dense forest road. The Collector was informed that revival of the reservoir would benefit about 900 acres. “There is a lot of silt in the reservoir and encroachments have sprung up around it. We will cancel the ‘pattas' and submit a proposal to the government seeking funds for its revival,” he said.
Jubilant over the Collector's visit, farmers recalled that the Periaruvi was originally sanctioned Rs. 4.96 lakh in July, 1962. “Former Minister Kakkan commissioned it in 1965 and water was let out for irrigation for direct ayacut in fasli 1376,” they told The Hindu .
Further, at the time of inception, it was proposed to accord priority to have irrigation demands first right and be passed down in full, without modification or alteration, they pointed out.
Mr. Kamaraj indicated that the entire stretch leading to the “Periaruvi” water body could be developed as a tourist spot as it had all the features to attract visitors. “We will send the proposal in about a fortnight to the government and hope to begin work by the year-end.”
