Implement Avinashi Athikadavu Scheme - Appeal To Govt
The Avinashi Athikadavu Groundwater Recharging Scheme Federation has appealed to the State Government to implement the scheme immediately. “The Government should do it at the earliest since the groundwater table is depleting and the quality of water is affected,” said SMR Natrajan, member of the federation.
The scheme envisages filling up for 85 ponds and a large number of tanks in this region with the excess water from the Bhavani. Mr. Natrajan said the scheme had been announced in two earlier budgets. Just 0.9 tmc of excess water from the river was needed to fill these ponds. These would help in recharging the groundwater table, benefiting the public and farmers in a number of places from Mettupalayam to Perundurai. Water was now available at 600 ft or 700 ft and some were even drilling up to 1,000 ft to get groundwater.
With rapid development in this belt a large number of people were tapping the groundwater. If a farm was using 20HP power to pump water, with the improvement of the groundwater table, just three HP would be needed. The scheme would ensure availability of quality water and help reduce power consumption in farms. A survey was conducted a couple of months ago to study encroachments along the canal alignment. A revised project estimate had also been prepared and was waiting for the Government approval, Mr. Natrajan said. Hence, the Government should start implementing the project immediately and it could be completed in phases too, he added.
