After long battle, Chola era lake being desilted

Thiruchirapalli

The lake dug during Chola dynasty rule at Kallapermbur village is spread across 640 acres and gets recharged from water that branches out from Kachamangalam Dam along the Ananda Cauvery canal.

The lake was irrigating 2,662 acres in the villages of Kallaperambur, Tennangudi, Pillayarnatham, Seeralur, Sakkarasamantham, Vadakal, Rayathur, Gunamangalam, Sithayal and Chithirakudi. But, the eight sluiced lake was left abandoned for several years and the entire lake was covered with vegetation.

Farmers, who benefited from the lake has long been fighting for desilting the facility. Their plea went unheard for several years. Even their kin working abroad raised nearly Rs 9 lakh to desilt the facility and handed the money to the district administration. But the project remained a non-starter. Meanwhile, recently a fund of Rs 83 lakh has been allocated to desilt the lake. Even then the actual commencement of desilting works got delayed due to several reasons.

In such a backdrop, the lake was added in the list of kudimaramathu works after repeated demands made by the ayacutdars of the lake. Finally, on Wednesday, the works commenced.

Agriculture Minister R Doraikannu and MP (Rajya Sabha) R Vaithilingam inaugurated the desilting works in the presence of the district Collector M Govinda Rao.

“Out of eight sluices, four are to be rebuilt and the works would be undertaken in war footing. While the sand mounds would be established after the desilt works which will be undertaken simultaneously,” Vaithilingam told reporters.

Vaithilingam also said that the works would continue till the water that was released from Kallanai reaches the lake and the remaining works would be continued and completed by next year.

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