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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Water conservation measures in Western Ghats pay off -J Arockiaraj

Water conservation measures in Western Ghats pay off -J Arockiaraj

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published Published on May 24, 2014   modified Modified on May 24, 2014
-The Times of India


MADURAI: The percolation pond at Mottanuthu at the foothill of Western Ghats of Elumalai town panchayat now abounds with water. Earlier, locals had no way to store rain water. The mango orchards nearby were vulnerable to the vagaries of nature. Not anymore. The efforts of the District Watershed Development Agency (DWDA) in Madurai to conserve water have paid off.

Madurai district was offered Rs 172 lakh grant by the central government to develop areas in the Western Ghats. Soon, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the departments of agricultural engineering, forest, animal husbandry and agriculture stepped in.

V Charumathi, assistant engineer of Western Ghats Development Programme, said the percolation pond at Mottanuthu, which is on the outskirts of the town panchayat, was one among the projects executed under the district watershed development scheme.

The forest department has constructed seven check dams inside the forests of Elumalai region at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. It has also dug an elephant trench in the same region for Rs 2.88 lakh, she said.

Under the DRDA project, Elumalai town panchayat was sanctioned Rs 14 lakh for construction of the pond at Mottanuthu. During the summer rains between May 1 and May 9, the pond across the Ayyankoil stream filled to the brim. The project will greatly benefit hundreds of mango plantations on both sides of the pond, residents said.

Earlier, the rain water used to run off without any benefit, said T Rajendran, executive officer of Elumalai town panchayat. "With this pond, we will be able to save water and it will greatly help in increasing the water table for mango farmers," he said. "Ground water level in wells has gone up after the pond filled up during summer rains. Besides, it will also benefit wild animals on the upper part of the Ghats, he added.

Agricultural engineering department has received the major portion of the grant of Rs 67 lakh for dam work. It is involved in constructing check dams - both medium and major check dams as well as gabion dams - across the Elumalai belt for soil conservation purpose, she mentioned.

S Kanagaraj, project manager & deputy director of DWDA, said the district has utilised the grant sanctioned till date. "We are glad to see our projects materialising for the good of the locals. Project officer Jayasingh Gnanadurai guided us to complete the projects in time. The central government is willing to release more funds and the departments can come out with their proposals. But the project should focus only on the development of the Western Ghats," Kanagaraj said.


The Times of India, 24 May, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Environment/Flora-Fauna/Water-conservation-measures-in-Western-Ghats-pay-off/articleshow/35533119.cms


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