The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Joint panel to advise on Malattar river management

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Joint panel to advise on Malattar river management

Special Correspondent

Heavy siltation absorbs whatever flow the river gets during monsoons

CUDDALORE : A joint committee of officials and local farmers will be formed to draw up a strategy for sustainable water management in the heavily silted Malattar river. The river, running through the districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore is silted with sand deposits, measuring 20 ft to 30 ft in depth. Such heavy siltation is absorbs whatever little flow the river gets during monsoons. Hence, for most part of the year, the river remains dry; this has affected the farmers in the 27 villages in its course and also the ground water potential.

At the Gram Sabha meeting held on Tuesday at Chinnur Pudupettai, one of the villages on the river bank, District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo said the local farmers had tremendous knowledge about the Malattar and pragmatic ideas for tapping its potential. They were keen that the course of the river, for a stretch of about 15 km, should be desilted and a canal with 20-30 metres width be formed on the riverbed for diverting the excesses from the Then Pennaiyar.

If this was done, the Malattar would be rejuvenated and help in recharging the sub-surface water.

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