This was possible due to the efforts made by Tirunelveli Collector V. Vishnu, which included cleaning of ponds and removal of encroachments along 39 km of the river’s waterway.
Thirty-nine dry irrigation tanks, which have been dry for more than thirty years due to encroachment of closed irrigation canals, now get water from the Hanuman River, thanks to the timely efforts made by Collector V. Vishnu to remove man-made obstacles. has given. At various places along the 39 km long waterway of the river.
The operation has revived more than 10,000 acres of agricultural operations after a gap of 30 years. Sri Vishnu came up with the ‘Nellai Neeravalam’ (Tirunelveli Water Resources) scheme, after visiting several dry water bodies – both settled and un-systematic – across the district in the first week of July. Its objective was to rejuvenate the ponds and irrigation tanks with public participation.
To ensure free flow of water in these irrigation tanks and ponds by removing neglected irrigation channels and illegal structures obstructing the flow of water in these water bodies, besides digitizing the information related to water bodies of Tirunelveli district. Steps were taken.
Shri Vishnu, after getting information about 49 irrigation tanks, which do not get water from the Hanuman River due to irrigation canals and encroachments, constructed the entire river course from the Senchatti check-dam near the Kuthrapanjan Falls, its source point in the Western Ghats. done inspection. , Panchattikulam, the last irrigation tank of the Hanuman river irrigation system and personally traced the cause of the problem.
“Since all the channels connected to this irrigation system were filled with tons of silt and debris and the channels were encroached upon by individuals at various places, steps were taken to remove all the impediments,” says Mr. Vishnu.
On his instructions, Radhapuram Tehsildar A. A team was formed, led by Yesurajan, to undertake both the siltation and eviction operations. In some places, farmers who have coconut trees near the watercourse had illegally occupied the river by planting coconut trees beyond its limits. In some other places, windmill companies illegally built temporary roads across the waterway that diverted the water.
When the work started, the Kanjiparai and Soravali check-dams, which were built by K. Kamaraj was the chief minister, was constructed fortified and reconstructed to divert water from the Western Ghats to the Hanuman River via the Senchatti check-dam near Panagudi. Supported by volunteers of the ‘Nam Hanuman River Movement’, the siltation of the 36 km long watercourse was completed before the onset of the northeast monsoon. Now, the canals leading from the main watercourse to the irrigation tanks are being desilted.
The desilting of the main channel has ensured the flow of water in 38 out of 49 tanks, all getting water from the Hanuman river. Out of these, 33 irrigation tanks are overflowing after desilting and 5 tanks have 75% water.
Work is going on to supply water to the remaining 11 irrigation tanks. We will ensure the overflow of all 49 tanks under the Hanuman river irrigation system this year, thereby silting every part of the irrigation system,” Mr. Yesurajan said.
The farmers of Hanuman river irrigation system are happy now. “All these 49 irrigation tanks were getting water only through forested streams whenever the region had received heavy rains in the past. After a long time of 30 years, this irrigation system has been revived by the collector and his team of officials,” says Murugan, president of Veppilankulam gram panchayat.
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