Marungapuri, once considered the ‘Cheerapunji of Tiruchi district,’ accounted for copious rainfall during the onset of monsoon. By virtue of its location on the foothills of Nedumalai, the block accounted for a good realisation of rainfall. In fact, it was during 2005 floods that the district in general and the block in particular witnessed the maximum amount of rainfall.
A cross section of farmers of the block say that a dam, if constructed across the Nedumalai, would go a long way in ensuring assured irrigation of a large area in the block. In the absence of a dam, the rainwater and stormwater was let off into the sea at Thondi through the Paalar.
According to Agriculture Department officials, the block was blessed with fertile soil but the absence of irrigation facility had been a major blockade. Referring to the construction of the dam across the Viswakudi in Perambalur district, both farmers and officials say that there was a strong case for constructing the dam.
In fact, a survey was taken in the area after the floods hit the village in 2005, says M. Natarajan, one of the progressive farmers of Maruthampatti village in the block. He pointed out that the Marungapuri block was blessed with a series of system tanks and the dam, once constructed, would benefit the farmers to a great extent. Pointing out that the soil was best suited for raising any crop including banana, green chillies, mango and coconut. He said that the block, located in the border of Tiruchi, Dindigul and Sivaganga districts, needed adequate attention. A comprehensive and long-term irrigation plan should be executed for the block.
The fact that the block had been a fertile land could well be ascertained by a large number of open wells in various fields in the union. Farmers said that they were sparing no efforts to maintain the water table in the open wells so that they could, in turn, irrigate the fields. Mani, another farmer, says that the farmers had set up bore wells in their fields from which water is drawn to fill open wells. “We utilise the water from the open wells to irrigate banana and other crops,” he said.
