The state government has proposed to take up a massive project to prevent intrusion of seawater into the Cauvery delta region, impound floodwater besides improve drainage facilities at an outlay of Rs 1,560 crore funded by Asian Development Bank, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa announced.
“If irrigation facilities are not initiated, groundwater will become unfit for use. At the tail-end areas of the delta region, floodwater can lead to water stagnation in agricultural lands causing huge losses to farmers,” Ms J. Jayalalithaa said making a suo motu statement in the Assembly on Monday.
The chief minister said during peak northeast monsoon, several drainage channels get clogged and there were no adequate facilities to save excess rainwater which finally drains into the sea.
“It is imperative to save excess rainwater and use it for irrigation activities whenever required and also to prevent saltwater from the sea spoiling the groundwater,” Ms Jayalalithaa said and added that scientists have predicted that in the coming years climatic changes would trigger an increase in sea water level.
In 40 years, the sea water level will rise in the Cauvery delta region and this in turn affect agricultural lands.
Hence, steps would be taken to reconstruct sluices at tail-end areas of Cauvery delta region, in addition to constructing more sluices to save floodwater, which would increase the groundwater level and prevent salt water from entering the delta region.
Assuring that the works would be completed in five years, the chief minister said while the ADB had agreed to provide Rs 1,092 crore aid, the balance sum would be borne by the state government, Ms Jayalalithaa said and added that this would benefit 4.50 lakh acres of agricultural lands in Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts.