Chennai: After getting Kerala’s nod, further action will be taken to build checkdams at three locations across Aliyar river, announced Chief Minister K Palaniswami during the Assembly session.
Deputy Speaker and Pollachi MLA, V Jayaraman, sought checkdams across the Aliyar river. He pointed out that experts believed that if checkdams were constructed across the river, two TMC of water could be stored.
Jayaraman had appealed to the AIADMK-led government to construct checkdams in Pollachi, Udumalaipettai, Kinathukadavu, and Valparai assembly constituencies so that rainwater does not empty into the Arabian sea through Kerala. Responding to him, the CM there is a proposal to build checkdams in three locations till the Manikadavu point across the river.
Also he said the government was considering to build additional checkdams in order to store surplus rainwater in the Parambikulam Aliyar project catchment areas. This area falls under Pollachi and Valparai assembly segments. The CM further announced that estimates for the proposal have been prepared and that it is under consideration.
Jayaraman had earlier revealed that following rains in and around Parambikulam, Sholayar, and Aliyar dams last year, about 50 TMC of water ended up in the Arabian sea. To prevent this checkdams are necessary across west flowing rivers.
Such measures need to be pursued on need basis in other areas in the same region, so that farmers will be benefited. The MLA also further sought implementation of the Anamalayaru-Nallaru project.