Falling groundwater levels spur call for desilting of Chithiraichavadi check dam on Noyyal
Farmers in Coimbatore are calling for the desilting of the Chithiraichavadi check dam to combat falling groundwater levels and prepare for the monsoon. Local authorities have acknowledged the request and are exploring partnerships to remove silt and address illegal waste dumping along the river.
Why it matters
Water scarcity and infrastructure maintenance are critical issues for agricultural sustainability in the region.
With River Noyyal running dry and groundwater levels falling sharply, farmers in Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district have urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to desilt the Chithiraichavadi check dam ahead of the northeast monsoon.
The check dam, the first across the Noyyal in the region, has not been desilted for more than 30 years, the farmers said. Sand deposits have accumulated to a level higher than the retaining structure, while reeds growing up to 10 feet have spread across the riverbed.
The check dam feeds the Keezh Chithiraichavadi channel, which supplies water to more than 10 tanks. Farmers said desilting the check dam now will enable it to retain monsoon flows and help improve groundwater.
Thondamuthur block has 10 panchayat villages, with a total cultivated area of around 12,500 hectares.
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