After a gap of three decades, villagers in association with a private school management and Dindimavanam, an association for planting trees, started desilting Pandian Theppakulam, prime water source to Sirumalai hill and recharging source to many waterbodies in Dindigul and Madurai districts.
Sprawling over an acre at Pazhaiyur on the hill, the tank is the prime groundwater recharging source to several irrigation open wells and drinking water borewells on the hill. Surplus water from the pond would pass through several forest streams, especially Sitrodai, Sellandi Amman Odai and Sathiyaru Odai, and reach Saathiyaru reservoir at Palamedu near Alanganallur in Madurai district.
Surplus water would travel at least 20 km to reach the Saathiyaru reservoir. Even excess flow from Saathiyaru would recharge Mooduvarpatti tank near Palamedu, Oorserry tank and Adhanur tank in Alanganallur and finally confluence in the Vaigai after passing through the Vaigai channel, said S. Surendran of Sirumalai People Awareness Association.
Moreover, surplus water would pass through several streams on the hill irrigating large tracts of agriculture land. It would also be an ideal waterhole for wild animals, especially Indian Gaur, wild boars and deer. Migration of wild animals into residential areas for water would be contained to a larger extent, he added.
First, he had given a petition to the Collector seeking his permission to desilt the tank. Collector T.G. Vinay granted permission immediately and advised them to rope in corporates for rehabilitation of the tank and supply channels. Maharishi Vidhya Mandhir School extended its support for this cause. It also assured to share the expenses.
Kick-starting the work at Pazhiayur on Sirumalai hill here on Wednesday, the Collector said that desilting work was under progress in several tanks in the district with the participation of communities as well as corporate companies.
Rehabilitation work at several tanks was at the finishing stage, he said.
