Farmers persist with proposal to get surplus water to Kolakkudi tank

Farmers propose a project to divert surplus water from Mullapadi tank to rejuvenate Kolakkudi tank for irrigation needs.

Over 30 years have gone when farmers rejoiced over the Kolakkudi tank, situated west of Kolakkudi village near Musiri in the district, reaching its full capacity. Many attempts were made in the past to rejuvenate the inlet channels to remove silt, weeds, and other blocks to bring water to the lake but without much success. Now, farmers have launched a movement to connect the Mullipadi tank with the Kolakkudi tank and the neighbouring Appanallur and Ammankudi tanks, to get surplus water.

The department explored the option of building a canal to connect the Mullipadi tank that gets Cauvery water from the Mayanur regulator and Kolakkudi tank. However, the officials dropped the proposal citing the topographical limitations as water could not be carried to Kolakkudi tank through gravitational force. But farmers have not lost hope and have come together under an umbrella of Kolakkudi Groundwater Improvement Association to spearhead their efforts to get the surplus water from Mullipadi tank. They prepared a detailed project report (DPR) by engaging a private consultant from Bengaluru to bring the surplus water from the Mullipadi tank through lift irrigation. It has been submitted to Collector V. Saravanan and the department officials.

“The idea is to make use of the surplus water from the Mullipadi tank. After serving the purpose, the surplus water from the tank again goes to the Cauvery. We need to lay a pipeline for about 6 km from Mullipadi tank to Kolakkudi, Appanallur and Ammangudi tanks to carry water by erecting high-speed pump sets,” says P. Mathiyazhagan, 62, a farmer of Kolakkudi, who is the project coordinator.

The association held a meeting at Kolakkudi a few days ago to spearhead the movement. L. R. Narayanasamy, president, and P.K. Manikandan, secretary of the Kolakkudi Groundwater Improvement Association, said the scheme was the only viable option to fill Kolakkudi and other two tanks. More than 650 acres of land would get water for irrigation if it was implemented. The State government should consider the demand, the association added.