Diversion of rain flood water from Chittar River to Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Kulathur-Vilathikulam area
Chittar River Thamiraparani River Uppar River Thamiraparani Ottapidaram tank Malarkulam Ottan Channel.
Proposal-2
Diversion of rain flood from Uppar River to Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Kulathur-Vilathikulam Area through a link channel & Ottan channel
Chittar River Thamiraparani River Uppar River Thamiraparani Ottapidaram tank Avarankad tank Meenakshipuram tank Arasadi tak Kulathoor tank Veppalodai tank Rajavinkoil tank Saminatham tank Sillanatham tank Velayuthapuram tank Thuppasipatti tank Malarkulam Jambulingapuram tank Puthamputhur tank Patchaiperumal tank Kunavan tank Maimaran tank Seval kulam Konankulam Ammalpatti tank Ottanatham tank Kalappaipatti tank Kothali tank Kollankinar tankk Kulasekaranallur tank Osanuthu tank Ottan channel
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PROSPOSAL FOR DIVERSION OF EXCESS FLOOD WATER OF RIVER CHITTAR/UPPAR RIVER TO THE EMPTY TANKS IN THE DROUGHT
STRICKEN OTTAPIDARAM-PUTHIAMPUTHUR-VILATHIKULAM REGION
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Tamiraparani River is the main source of water supply for irrigation and drinking purposes for the people living in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin Districts. Tamiraparani and its tributaries originating at the eastern slope of Western Ghats ridge flows towards north-east initially and then in the middle towards south and at the end confluence with Bay of Bengal near Palayakayal. The length of the basin is 120 km and width varying from 20 km to 35 km. The entire basin of 5,665 km spreads mostly in Tirunelveli District and the southern Taluks of Tuticori Dist. Viz. Tiruchendur and Srivaikuntam. Though the flow of the River benefits a small portion on the southern side of Tuticorin District, a large portion on the northern side of Tuticorin District, i.e. Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Vilathikulam areas, just 18 km away from the River, could not avail even the excess flow of the River because of the slightly higher altitude of contour of the area making the water flow difficult. The contour of Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur is 20 m. higher than the contour of Tamiraparani River at the nearest point of Sivalaperi. The gradient of the landscape in the area is 10 metres per kilometer towards south-east. Hence it is proposed to take diversion slightly upstream of the river at a higher altitude so that smooth flow of water can be achieved. This proposal is for diversion either at Chittar or a slightly upstream location from Uppodai River, a tributary to Chittar.
2. EMPTY TANKS AND DIRE SCARCITY FOR DRINKING WATER IN
OTTAPIDARAM-PUTHIAMPUTHUR-VILATHIKULAM AREAS JUST
18 KM FROM THE TAMIRAPARANI RIVER
Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Vilathikulam areas of Tuticorin District, which have a rural population of around 2 lakhs in 200 villages spreading over 140 sq.km area, are reeling under severe drought for the past over 30 years. Drinking water sources and irrigation tanks are fully dependent on monsoon rains, and due to lack of rains in recent years, around 60 irrigation tanks and drinking water sources in this region have become dry, ground water has gone deep to more than 500 ft and the borewells supplying water for drinking and for irrigation purposes have failed. While the rural population living in this region are facing severe drought, plenty of rain floods flow in the River Thamiraparani and Chittar, which flow just 18 km from this drought-stricken area, reach the sea unutilized.
3.0 EXCESS RAIN FLOOD OF RIVER THAMIRAPARANI/CHITTAR REACHING
THE SEA UNUTILISED
The total storage of the 9 major and medium reservoirs of Tamiraparani Basin is 384.63 MCM. There are arbout 1300 irrigation tanks in the basin with approximate storage capacity of 196 MCM. The total water demand for irrigation, livestock, industries, inter-basin transfer and drinking water needs of the people for the year 2020 is estimated as 1806.29 MCM. The total water potential of Tamiraparani Basin is 2130.51 MCM. After meeting the demand of the basin, i.e. 1806.29 MCM, the net surplus water potential available is 324.22 MCM or 11,450 Mcuft. 40% of the flood water flows from Chittar and its tributaries. The average annual surplus flowing to the sea from the Srivaikuntam anicut from the year 1971 to 2003 is worked out to 11,150 Mcuft, the surplus flow duration varying from 20 to 30 days. This year also during the month of November 2006 alone, around 8,000 million cufic feet of water passed through the last anicut of Tamiraparani at Srivaikuntam and reached the sea fully unutilized.
4.0 A SMALL PORTION OF SURPLUS FLOOD WATER REACHING SEA
UNUTILISED CAN MEET THE DEMAND
As described in para 3.0 above, the minimum surplus water passing to the sea from Srivaikuntam anicut every year is of the order of 11,150 Mcuft. This flow is for 20 to 30 days during monsoon months of October to December, and in addition occasional summer rains in the region or in any one of the area along the Tamiraparani River or Chittar River or anyone of the tributaries reaching the Rivers, cause floods in the Tamiraparani River, for 10 to 15 days every year. According to PWD authorities, some flood water utilizations schemes [Flood water management in River Tamirabarani under WB aided Hydrology Project Phase II to the tune of INR 2 crores per annum &] in the Tamira-parani basin to the extent of 7,190Mcuft are either taken up or planned. Even after allowing these schemes, a net surplus of 4,260 Mcuft water potential is available. In this recent year 2006 also, even by November end, around 9,000 million cubic feet of water has passed the last anicut of Thamiraparani River at Srivaikuntam and reached the sea unutilized. This huge net surplus can well meet out the annual requirement of only 350 Mcuft to feed the irrigation tanks and drinking water sources of Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Kulathoor-Vilathikulam-Kadaladi areas.
5.0 THE PROPOSAL
The diversion of the rain floods to the Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur-Vilathikulam region is proposed to execute in two stages:-
1) Stage I: The first stage to be executed for immediate relief is to link the Ottan Channel to the Channel leading to the irrigation tanks in Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur areas. This link can be made from the point upstream of Ottan channel 4 km north of Sangampatti, wherefrom water flows to Kombadi Odai, and divert the excess water through a link channel of 500 metre to the channel leading to the irrigation tanks in Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur areas.
2) Stage II: The second stage is to divert the flood water from the Chittar River 2 km north of Gangaikondan checkdam, or a little north from Uppodai River at a suitable point facilitating smooth gravitational flow to the Ottan Channel through a link channel of 4 km and wild rain water drainage channels.
6.0 ESTIMATE
Alternative-1 involves provision of a connecting channel of 500 metre length from Ottan Channel to the existing channel leading to the irrigation tanks of Ottapidaram-Puthiamputhur area. Alternative-2 involves provision of a link channel of about 1 km length, from Chittar River or Uppodai River, as the case may be, and streamlining the existing wild rain water drainage channels to the Ottan Channel.
The expenditure involved in executing the scheme at alternative-1 is estimated at Rs.30 lakhs. The expenditure involved in executing the scheme at alternative-2 including strengthening of the banks of Ottan Channel is estimated at Rs. 70 lakhs.
7.0 BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSAL
Over two lakh rural population living in 200 villages and suburban area of Tuticorin spread over 140 sq.km. wholly dependent on punjai manavari and well-water irrigation will get the river water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Around 70 irrigation tanks will get the supply of water. About 260 hectares will get water for irrigation Ground water level in the area will be maintained In short, the rural population living in this drought-stricken area will get water and ground water well maintained even during summer months, for drinking and irrigation needs.
[Thanks due to President, Jambulingapuram village Panchayt,Shri.Arun Pandian]
