Speaker M. Appavu releasing water to Radhapuram channel at Nilapparai.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The surplus water of Petchiparai dam, which was going waste into the sea for the past few days, was released in the 28.80-km-long Radhapuram channel on Monday as Assembly Speaker M. Appavu opened the shutters at Nilapparai to release the water in the channel to take water to 52 irrigation tanks in Radhapuram constituency for feeding over 15,000 acres of cultivable lands.
When the late Chief Minister K. Kamaraj happened to see the surplus water of Petchiparai dam going waste into the sea, he increased the height of the dam from 42 feet to 48 feet so as to give the extra 6 feet water (3.75 TMC water) to the dry region of Radhapuram by digging the 28.80-km-long Radhapuram channel.
Even though all 52 irrigation tanks in Radhapuram taluk are filled up with surplus water of Petchiparai dam, it will cause the depletion of only 1 TMC of water in the reservoir. Hence, Kamaraj issued an order for releasing Petchiparai dam’s surplus water in Radhapuram channel whenever the reservoir has water for 42 feet against its maximum level of 48 feet.
While 3,300 million cubic feet of Petchiparai dam goes waste into the sea every year, all 52 dry irrigation tanks of Radhapuram taluk could be filled up with just 420 million cubic feet water if the water now being wasted is diverted to the dry Radhapuram region.
Hence, the surplus water of Petchiparai dam going waste into the sea is released in Radhapuram channel by diverting the water at Nilapparai near Azhagappapuram in Kanniyakuamri district whenever the reservoir has satisfactory storage of 42 feet.
Water level in the dam now stands above 42 feet and the reservoir is now getting decent influx of water even as the southwest monsoon is gaining momentum along the Western Ghats.
“We, the farmers of dry Radhapuram area, thank the Chief Minister for ordering the release of Petchiparai dam’s surplus water in Radhapuram channel after releasing sufficient funds for repairing the Thovalai channel, which takes the water to Nilapparai, and the Radhapuram channel so that the water will reach the Mahendrapuram tank, the last waterbody under the Radhapuram channel,” Mr. Appavu said.
As per the arrangement, 100 to 150 cusecs of water will be released in the Radhapuram channel till October 31 (for 138 days). 50% water will be stored in all 52 irrigation tanks one by one so as to ensure water for all the cultivable lands and the remaining 50% water in the tanks will be filled up based on water availability.
When the engineers of Water Resources Department informed the Speaker about shortage of manpower for monitoring and operating the shutters at Nilapparai to ensure continuous release of water in Radhapuram channel, he agreed to give the salary from his personal funds for the personnel hand picked by them for operating the shutter.
“I also appeal to the farmers here not to operate (either open or close down) the shutters on their own as the officials will take care of them. Since the dam now has satisfactory storage to meet the demand here and the monsoon is gaining momentum, there will be no water scarcity for agricultural operations in Kanniyakumari district while the surplus water quenching the thirst of Radhapuram people and meeting the agricultural needs,” Mr. Appavu said.
Published – June 16, 2025 07:05 pm IST