Farmers urge restoration of Salem check dam to revive irrigation

Farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district have sounded the alarm over the deteriorating condition of a check dam across the Thirumanimutharu River near Kondalampatti, urging authorities to restore the structure and revive a crucial water network that has sustained agriculture and groundwater reserves for generations.

The farmers have appealed to the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Salem City Municipal Corporation to repair the damaged check dam, warning that its failure has disrupted the natural flow of water to two key irrigation reservoirs — Kottanathan Lake at Neikkarapatti and the downstream Poolavari Lake — leaving them parched even after spells of heavy rainfall.

Once a vital link in the region’s traditional irrigation system, the Kondalampatti check dam played a crucial role in storing river water and diverting surplus flow through the Neikkarapatti head sluice into Kottanathan Lake. The overflow from the lake would then feed Poolavari Lake, ensuring a steady supply of water for farming and helping replenish groundwater levels in nearby villages.

The Thirumanimutharu River, which originates in the Shevaroy Hills, flows through Salem city before merging with the Cauvery River. For decades, the river’s interconnected network of channels and water bodies supported agricultural communities along its course.

Farmers said the check dam suffered partial damage during the Salem City Municipal Corporation’s Thirumanimutharu River Beautification Project, which involved strengthening riverbanks, constructing retaining walls and clearing obstructions to improve water flow. However, they alleged that the damaged structure was never fully restored, weakening the traditional irrigation system.

Despite the construction of the Neikkarapatti head sluice in 2012 to regulate water diversion, farmers said the facility has failed to serve its intended purpose as the damaged check dam can no longer hold enough water to channel it towards the supply network.

As a result, much of the river water continues to flow downstream instead of reaching the lakes that depend on it.

Farmers also highlighted the growing problem of overgrown shrubs and vegetation choking parts of the river and supply channels, restricting water movement even during periods of strong inflow. They raised concerns over stagnant water and alleged discharge of untreated waste into the river, affecting water quality in several stretches.

They said restoring the check dam and clearing the supply channels would not only revive irrigation but also improve groundwater recharge and prevent precious rainwater from flowing away unused.

Meanwhile, a senior WRD official in Salem said a proposal to renovate the Neikkarapatti supply channel has already been submitted under a state government Budget announcement. Detailed estimates have been prepared and sent for administrative approval.

The department said restoration work would begin once the proposal receives clearance and the required funds are sanctioned.

For farmers who depend on the river’s historic water network, the revival of the damaged check dam represents more than an infrastructure repair — it is a bid to restore an ecological lifeline that has long nourished the region’s fields and communities.

With IANS inputs