CHENNAI: The State Government should take a fresh look at the report submitted by an expert group four years ago, which recommended the construction of six checkdams across the Palar and one across the Cheyyar (a tributary of Palar), K.R. Sivaraman, former geophysicist in the Groundwater Department, said on Sunday.

Addressing a seminar on the Palar water problem, Mr, Sivaraman, who is also the director of WARE (Water Resources Research Exnora), said the Government should initiate discussions among all stakeholders on the proposal before acting on the idea.

The checkdams "will reduce subsurface runoff and recharge the groundwater table and sub-surface soil water. This will also rejuvenate the drinking water sources that are dependent on the Palar."

M.B. Nirmal, founder of Exnora International, who inaugurated the seminar organised by residents' associations of Chitlapakkam, Nanganallur and New Colony, Chromepet, and the Kancheepuram district unit of Exnora, urged the Government to harness the Palar water. He called for checking the pollution of the Kolavoy lake at Chengalpattu.

V. Venugopal, Kancheepuram district president of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh should hold talks to solve the controversy over the reported plan of Andhra Pradesh to construct a dam across the Palar at Kuppam.

C.A. Vasudeva Rao, civil engineer, said a portion of the Cauvery water could be diverted to the Palar through an open channel, or a pipeline, that could begin at Hogenekkal and terminate at Vaniyambadi.

"Revive Palar Board"

The revival of the Palar Basin Management and Development Board and stringent measures for stopping illicit sand quarrying from the riverbed were among the suggestions made at the meeting.

A resolution called upon political parties to work united to protect the State's rights over the Palar water.

More awareness campaigns would be carried out for saving the Palar.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail