The long-pending demand of the farmers of villages around the Chinnavedapatti Lake in Coimbatore is soon to come true as the Public Works Department (PWD) has decided to de-silt the canals leading to the lake soon.
According to PWD officials, they have sent a proposal to the State Government to give clearance to the project, which includes de-silting of the lake and repairing the shutters at a check dam at an estimated cost of Rs.30 lakh. Work will begin once the State okays the project.
This will support agriculture in over 5,000 acres and also replenish the groundwater level of villages around the Lake.
The project started in the late 80s when water from the Western Ghats in the Thadagam region was diverted to the lake through the Sanganur Canal. A check dam was constructed near Thadagam with five shutters including three for letting out water and two for silting the sand.
However, over the course of time, the shutters became faulty and despite most parts of Coimbatore receiving ample rainfall in the monsoon seasons, the lake was dry as the canals did not help in diverting water.
Various representations were made by agriculturists bodies to the District Administration to bring back water to the lake as it would not only help farmers around the lake but also increase the ground water level in areas including Saravanampatti, Arasur, Ganapathy, Nilambur, Chinniampalayam, Kovilpalayam and Kurumbapalayam.
An estimate has been prepared by the PWD based on the representations and the ball is now in the court of the State Government.
According to PWD officials, they have sent a proposal to the State Government to give clearance to the project, which includes de-silting of the lake and repairing the shutters at a check dam at an estimated cost of Rs.30 lakh. Work will begin once the State okays the project.
This will support agriculture in over 5,000 acres and also replenish the groundwater level of villages around the Lake.
The project started in the late 80s when water from the Western Ghats in the Thadagam region was diverted to the lake through the Sanganur Canal. A check dam was constructed near Thadagam with five shutters including three for letting out water and two for silting the sand.
However, over the course of time, the shutters became faulty and despite most parts of Coimbatore receiving ample rainfall in the monsoon seasons, the lake was dry as the canals did not help in diverting water.
Various representations were made by agriculturists bodies to the District Administration to bring back water to the lake as it would not only help farmers around the lake but also increase the ground water level in areas including Saravanampatti, Arasur, Ganapathy, Nilambur, Chinniampalayam, Kovilpalayam and Kurumbapalayam.
An estimate has been prepared by the PWD based on the representations and the ball is now in the court of the State Government.