The desilting work carried out by Siruthuli organisation in five lakes in Coimbatore has provided positive results as the recent monsoon rains have half filled most of the desilted tanks here in Coimbatore.
The organisation had taken up desilting seven lakes in the upstream region. Out of the seven lakes, five lakes including Ukkulam, Kolarampathy Lake, Sottayandi Kulam, Ganganarayanasamudhram Lake and Pudukkulam were desilted over the last five months and the silt was sold to farmers.
The lakes were deepened to hold more water; the bunds were strengthened and the canals leading and taking out water to and out of the lakes were cleaned to make the passage easy for water. Of the five lakes, Ukkulam, which is one of the first lakes close to the Western Ghats, was filled close to 40 per cent and had ample water.
However, lakes including Kolarampathy, Sottayandi Kulam, Ganganayanasamudhram did not hold ample water. The reason for the same according to members of Siruthuli is the Seemaikaruvelam trees (prosopis juliflora).
“The Forest department is not allowing us to cut the trees claiming that birds would get affected. But the trees are sucking up the water in the lake and it is not storing enough,” said Vanitha Mohan from Siruthuli.
She further added that the lakes would prove good storing places and contribute to the ground recharge if the trees are cleared.
In addition to the desilting of lakes, the organisation has also involved in the desilting of two check dams near Perumalkoilpathi and Chadivayal respectively. While a checkdam has been desilted in Mundanthurai, another one was desilted in Nandangarai and both hold ample water. The channels leading to the dams are also desilted and are to help more than 1000 acres of farmlands each.
The organisation is also currently involved in the process of creating smaller lakes in the streams so that flow of the water is slowed down. New lakes including Kumaran Kuttai in Karadimadai, Sekambanur Kuttai in Jagirnaickenpalayam and Chavadi Kuttai in the same panchayat have been created to serve as percolation units.
The overall work is expected to give ample ground water to the western part of the district and to some part of the city.