Feasibility study to be conducted for constructing check-dam across Chittar River near Gangaikondan

District Collector K. P. Karthikeyan addresses farmers' concerns, including building a check-dam and controlling pest attacks in Tirunelveli.

District Collector K. P. Karthikeyan has instructed the revenue and agriculture department officials to visit a spot near Gangaikondan to study if check-dam across Chittar River can be built for benefitting over 100 acres of cultivable lands around Gangaikondan.

 Raising the issue at the farmers’ grievances redress meeting held at the Collectorate on Friday, president of Gangaikondan Farmers’ Association Ilosius said Chittar river, which originates at Courtallam and joins the Tamirabharani beyond Gangaikondan, is nourishing over 100 acres of land around Gangaikondan. Since the Chittar would have decent flow of water up to Gangaikondan or even beyond only during floods, the farmers would stack sandbags across the river to store and use the water for irrigating over 100 acres of cultivable land around Gangaikondan.

 “If a check-dam is built at this spot, it will permanently ensure water for irrigation around Gangaikondan,” he appealed.

 Accepting the suggestion, Dr. Karthikeyan instructed the revenue and the agriculture department officials to inspect the spot and submit feasibility report on constructing a check-dam across Chittar at Gangaikondan.

 When farmer Sorimuthu of Zamin Singampatti near Manimuthar dam appealed to the officials of Department of Agriculture to visit the fields, especially the paddy fields frequently, as the increased pest attack due to climatic changes was causing huge loss, Dr. Karthikeyan accepted the suggestion.

 The Collector also complimented the agriculture department officials for completely controlling the pest attack in paddy in Ambasamudram area.

 “Similar field visit should be made in all parts of Tirunelveli to predict the pest attack and prescribe the right methods to be followed by the growers to avert or neutralise the pest attack,” Dr. Karthikeyan said.