Farmers urge desilting of 800-year-old Chithirai Chavadi check dam to boost groundwater

COIMBATORE: Farmers have urged authorities to immediately desilt the Chithirai Chavadi check dam across the Noyyal river near Coimbatore. They stated that the 800-year-old check dam has not been dredged for more than 30 years despite repeated allocations for river restoration.

The Chola-era check dam measures 282.11 feet in length and 350 feet in width, with a 72-metre-long head sluice on the left side. It provides water for irrigation in 3,791 hectares.

N Viswanathan, a farmer from Thennamanallur village though crores of rupees were allocated for the Noyyal restoration, the check dam remained untouched.

He said the dam serves as a key drinking water source for a municipality and over nine panchayats under Thondamuthur union, benefiting more than one lakh people. Due to silt accumulation, sand mounds have formed within the reservoir, narrowing water flow and reducing storage during monsoon.

Farmers cultivate coconut, areca nut, tomato, brinjal and green banana using water from the check dam. However, Viswanathan claimed around 36 ponds on the northern and southern sides have remained dry for years, while groundwater levels have fallen below 750 feet. Nearly 28,000 acres benefit directly and indirectly from the structure, according to him. He urged the authorities to desilt the check dam ahead of summer to facilitate storage of monsoon rainwater.

R Periyasamy, vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, alleged that though funds had been sanctioned during the previous AIADMK regime, only strengthening work had been carried out. He suggested that a monitoring committee comprising local farmers and residents be formed to oversee maintenance works, including desilting of water bodies.

R Manikandan, Kovai Kulangal Pathukaappu Amaippu, said irrigation tanks in the suburban belt depend on this check dam. He sought removal of encroachments and action against waste dumping in the check dam.

M Sivakumar, assistant executive engineer, water resource department, said efforts were on to mobilise CSR funds for desilting.