Leave alone shrinkage of farming activities caused by sea water incursion after the 2004 tsunami, farmers in Thirumullaivasal, Edamanal, Thandavankulam, Thiruvengadu, Mangaimadam in Sirkazhi block in Nagapattinam district are struggling to rear their livestock due to scarcity of potable water. Their last hope is early implementation of the barrage project across the Coleroon river.
The onset of summer has triggered distress sale of cattle. “Cattle owners are looking at the nearest opportunity to sell the animals. Since the cattle do not consume saline water even in dire need, desperate farmers are feeding their animals with hay soaked in salty water,” according to Kumarasamy, a resident of one of the coastal villages. In many coastal villages in Sirkazhi and Kollidam blocks, potable water for human consumption is purchased on a daily basis, he said.
While the Sirkazhi municipality is able to stave off acute scarcity by sourcing water from the Coleroon river through pipelines to a distance of 16 km from Sidhamalli village, the struggle for potable water in the rural parts is turning worse.
With the seawater incursion into the Coleroon river putting a full stop to their livelihood, the farmers expect the government to implement the project of construction of the barrage across the Coleroon river between Adhanur and Kumaramangalam announced by late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, at the earliest. The late CM had made an announcement on August 4, 2014, on the floor of the Assembly during the Budget Session 2014-15 under Rule 110 that the barrage across the Kollidam river with head sluices at the downstream of the lower anicut near Adhanur and Kumaramangalam villages in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹ 400 crore.
There are indications that the project is moving forward. According to official sources, sub-soil investigation has been carried out and the designs for the various components of the scheme have been evolved.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for the new barrage last month. The 1,800 metre long and eight metre wide barrage will help store excess water that otherwise flows into the Bay of Bengal during monsoon. Besides storing enough water to irrigate 37,000 acres of ayacuts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, the project also envisages diversion of water for the New Veeranam Drinking Water scheme in Cuddalore.
Administrative sanction has been accorded for spending ₹ 31.34 crore for land acquisition. The Water Resources Department has been instructed to make ready the proposal for construction works. Loan from NABARD will be obtained under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund, for implementing the project that would cost ₹ 428 crore as per revised estimates based on the schedule of rates 2018-19, sources said, adding that the construction work is expected to be completed within two years.
