Tamil Nadu - Ramanathapuram   

Vaigai water reaches Manamadurai

Staff Reporter

Expected to reach Parthibanur regulator, doorway of Ramnad dt.

RAMANATHAPURAM: : The Vaigai water released for drinking purpose reached Manamadurai in Sivaganga district on Saturday and is expected to reach Parthibanur regulator, doorway of Ramanathapuram district. Though the quantum of water is minimal, it has raised the hope that it will help to recharge drinking wells in the Vaigai river.

The State Government issued an order to release 1000 mcft (one tmc) of water for the drinking purpose of Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts and subsequently, water was released from the Vaigai dam on September 21. Though the running speed of water is low owing to some wayside losses, it has finally touched Manamadurai and it means the water will reach Paramakudi also, where several programmes are implemented.

However, doubts have been raised in certain quarters that the released water will not reach the Ramanathapuram big tank, as the entire stretch between Paramakudi and Ramanathapuram has been dried out completely because of the deficient rainfall for the last few months.

Paramakudi MLA Ramprabhu said water released from the Vaigai dam was not sufficient to meet the drinking water needs, as it would not fully recharge the ground water. Most of the drinking water schemes implemented on the Vaigai bed remained suspended for the last few months because the river had dried up completely. So, the Government should release another 500 mcft of water from the Vaigai dam to meet out the drinking water needs, he said.

The Assistant Executive Engineer, K. S. Abdul Rashid, said the Government was kind enough to release 1000 mcft water as against 540 mcft eligible water from the Vaigai credit. In case the present release was not enough, necessary steps would be taken to release water depending on the water availability in the dam.

The purpose of the water release was to wet the wayside along the Vaigai river. There were 68 combined drinking water schemes on the Vaigai bed including Rajakambeeram, which facilitates water supply to Muthukulathur and Kadaladi taluks, Paramakudi water scheme for Paramakudi town and Pottithatty water scheme, which supplies water to Ramanathapuram town. The current flow of river had already wetted more than 65 per cent of source points. Remaining points would be wetted within two to three days.

Mr. Rashid said that enough precautions were made to prevent water theft or illegal diversion along the Vaigai river. Armed police personnel were posted at various vulnerable points.

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