Kovilpatti villagers rally to plug breach in local tank

The ‘Niravi Naicker Pond’ was filled to the brim. Slowly, the weak bunds of the pond began to give way and water started overflowing. It began to enter farm lands where they had sown crops and it then ran towards a rivulet running on the outskirts of the village.

When the villagers saw the bunds collapsing, they contacted the revenue department officials and asked them for immediate help and also explained to them that if help did not reach them soon, their crops would be soon submerged. They had sown crops like green gram, black gram and chillies. But, there was no response, official visit or help coming their way. As time progressed, villagers realised that all their hard work would be washed away. So, they discussed among themselves and decided

to act fast.

They roped in a JCB and began to repair the bunds. They plugged the leakage with soil and also strengthened the bunds by adding more soil. By evening, repair works were completed.

Pichaithalaivanpatti village has a population of close to 1000 people and the main occupation of the residents of the village is dry land farming. The villagers largely relied on the ‘Niravi Naicker Pond’, situated in the village, for their water resource. Though the residents of the village have long been demanding the officials of district administration to desilt the pond and to strengthen the bunds, their pleas had only fallen on deaf ears.