Even as the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for implementation of the Athikadavu – Avanashi Ground Water Recharge Project has been forwarded to the Union Ministry of Water Resources, farmers in dry pockets of Avanashi taluk eagerly look forward to an announcement in the ensuing budget.
The proposal will be processed at the Ministry of Water Resources, and a clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests is also expected. However, the farmers and residents of the region expect the State Government to make an announcement, agreeing, in principle, to pursue the implementation of the scheme.
The 55- year-old scheme was first mooted in 1957, utilising the water used for generating power at Kundah power house. It was even named the Mel Bhavani project. Later, in 1972, it was re-christened Athikadavu – Avanashi Ground Water Recharge Project, and had never seen the light of day.
But, the issue remained close to the hearts of the people residing in Avanashi taluk and surrounding areas, considered the dry pocket in the erstwhile Coimbatore district and currently Tirupur District.
In every election, a promise for implementing the scheme was religiously made by almost all candidates irrespective of political affiliations. In fact, in one of the Assembly elections, the federation of Athikadavu - Avanashi Scheme candidate from the Avanashi (R) Assembly constituency gave a tough fight to the candidates of political parties.
Avanashi Taluk has an average annual rainfall of 660 to 737 mm and is considered an arid region. Other dry taluks such as Dharapuram, Udumalpet, and Palladam get some benefit from the Amaravathy Reservoir and Parambikulam – Aliyar Project (PAP).
The Athikadavu – Avanashi Ground Water Recharge Project will have a check dam between Kundah and Pilloor and water will be diverted to Annur through a flood flow canal from where one canal will branch off to Avanashi and the other to Perundurai via Puliampatti and Nambiyur.
The Athikadavu – Avanashi flood flow canal, main canal and two branch canals will pass through the driest pocket of the taluk, recharging the ground water by filling up 48 tanks and 213 smaller ponds. Initial estimates revealed that 1.2 tmcft of water released over 20 days at 750 cusecs per day will help recharge ground water resources.
An expert team, led by Advisor to Government on Water Resources A. Mohanakrishnan, had submitted a report that 2 tmcft of water during flood flow could be diverted through the canal. A feasibility study was conducted at a cost of Rs 30 lakh in the form of soil test and borewell logs to decide on the ground condition and type of structures required.
The study had also gone into details on whether the commissioning of this scheme would, in any way, affect the existing project or its beneficiaries. Once the Government accords approval, in principle, and after getting the nod from the two Union Ministries i.e., Water Resources and Environment and Forests, the process will begin.
The feasibility of the scheme could be explored with assistance from World Bank, NABARD and even with Japanese aid. Hence, an in-principle approval and authorisation is what is expected immediately, officials in the know said.
