Tiruvannamalai district may go for 3 crops as kudimaramathu pays off

The district administration took up kudimaramathu works in 32 irrigation tanks and 5 anaicuts, spread across 12,000 acres for 2019-20 at an estimated cost of Rs 16.07 crore. 

The works which were completed just before the onset of the last north east monsoon resulted in not only tanks being filled to the brim, but also ensured that farmers could opt for three crops this year as water was in surplus.

Recently, renovation works were undertaken on the Kolathur anaicut adjacent to Kathazhampattu village in Arani panchayat union, which was totally impaired with silted up supply channels, broken vents and sluices, in which water did not flow for nearly 50 years.

The PWD’s WRO (Water Resources Organisation) undertook renovation work on the anaicut at an estimated cost of Rs 86 lakhs and when in the monsoon season, the Kolathur anaicut filled up and supplied water to the Melnagar, Kannamangalam, Azhagusenai and Ammapalayam irrigation tanks.

Local farmers Venketesan and Kesavan of Kolathur, were glad that with the Kolathur anaicut being developed, growing crops would be easy as the water now flows to their fields.

“The supply channel was totally silted up and was useless earlier but now we are happy as we can cultivate three crops now. Earlier we relied on well and pump irrigation, but now water flows from the anaicut directly to fields, saving us power bills.

When asked about this, PWD officials said, “An anaicut of 1,685 acres would benefit from the four irrigation tanks.”