Coimbatore, Dec. 4
Bringing up a huge smile on the faces of the activists who have been trying hard to revive it, a long dried-up stream that connects with the Kousika River ( near Periyanickenpalayam ) is gushing with water in the Western Ghats here.
The stream, known also as the Kaattubannariamman stream, flows from the Kurudi hills at Narasimmanaickenpalayam in Gudalur Panchayat. It originates from the Periyanaickenpalayam Forest Range and links with the Kousika River in the foothills of the ghat region.
It was first thought that the stream may never be in full flow because of a "naturally made hold" on the stream bed diverting the water underground. However, with ample rains, the stream is once again up and running.
The stream was recently in the news when a gabion structure that was constructed in 2012 at Rs. 50,000 jointly by the Forest Department and Department of Agricultural Engineering (AED), to block an artificial diversion, was damaged.
The natural flow of the stream was down the hill and in order to divert water to their village, some villagers nearby had allegedly diverted the stream at a small collecting spot, almost 300 metres inside the reserve at 600 metres above Mean Sea Level.
The gabion wall, made of rocks tied with steel wires, was meant to stop the diversion and allow the free passage of the stream. It was reconstructed by the Forest Department with the help of Public Works Department and pathway for water was made clear.
However, the stream continued to remain dry for some years. Recently, heavy rains in the ghat region had brought water to the stream, linking the stream to Kousika River.
The water from the stream is collected in small checkdam before being connected to the main Koushika River.
“The river is an important water source for seven lakh people spread over a stretch of over 40 km . If the streams leading to the river dry up, the seven lakh people would lose access to drinking water,” said P.K. Selvaraj from the Athikadavu Kousika River Development Association.