Choosing to ignore the opposition from Tamil Nadu, the Kerla Irrigation Department has decided to continue with the setting up of makeshift checkdams at Kottathara, Sambarkod, and Nellipathy across the Siruvani river in eastern Attappady to address the drinking and irrigation water shortage in the region.
Big protest
On Wednesday, major political parties of Tamil Nadu organised a huge protest near the State border at Anaikatti saying that the checkdams will prevent the flow of water into the Pillur dam across the east-flowing Bhavani, which meets the irrigation needs of Coimbatore city and its surroundings.
Tamil Nadu says that the construction of checkdams violates the water-sharing agreements between the two States.
Joint Water Regulatory Development Board deputy director Sudheer Padikkal said the checkdams were temporary in nature and aimed at addressing the water needs of the tribal region.
“The checkdams will support a set of drinking water supply schemes in Attappady. Small in nature, the checkdams with sand bags will easily allow overflow of excess water, which will definitely reach the Pillur dam via the Bhavani,” said Mr. Sudheer.
The Siruvani river, a feeder of the Bhavani, gets the excess water released by the State from the Siruvani reservoir, near Mannarkkad, which supports a major share of the drinking water needs of Coimbatore.
“We are open to visits by Tamil Nadu politicians to Attappady to see the worsening situation there.
The local tribal community will perish if we do not ensure drinking water during the hot summer months. These checkdams will in no way affect the water share of Tamil Nadu either from Pillur or from Siruvani,” said Mr. Sudheer.
SC ratifies verdict
The State is also justifying the setting up of the checkdams saying that they would help the State utilise at least a smaller share of the 6 tmc of water awarded from the Bhavani basin by the Cauvery Tribunal 10 years ago. The Supreme Court has ratified the verdict last year and allowed the State to move ahead with its checkdam proposals.
The Irrigation Department is now planning to utilise 1.57 tmc of water from the award through checkdams during the summer months. Checkdams have been built at Manjikandi and Thekkuvatta and they help meet the water requirements of respective regions.
The check-dams are minor and will not affect the drinking water needs of western Tamil Nadu, said tribal activist K. A. Ramu.
