58-Canal Scheme work to be over soon

  • | Friday | 16th March, 2018

“Importantly, though the construction may get over soon, there is no certainty on whether we will get water in the canal. O. Sivaprakasam, deputy secretary of the association, however, stated that they inspected only the spots where the work was in progress. P. Tamilselvan, a coordinator of the association, said they were glad to see the work finally nearing completion. However, some in the farmers’ team have raised concerns over the quality of work and on whether the project will be able to deliver its intended benefits. The final leg of the project gained momentum after a group approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.

more-in The 58-Canal Scheme in Usilampatti region, under which construction was going on for around 20 years, is on the verge of completion to meet the March 31 deadline assured to the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, according to official sources and a farmers’ team that inspected the progress of work. However, some in the farmers’ team have raised concerns over the quality of work and on whether the project will be able to deliver its intended benefits. The project, which was announced in 1996 with an estimate of ?33.81 crore, witnessed prolonged delays, leading to protests by different organisations. The final leg of the project gained momentum after a group approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. With the deadline the district administration assured to the High Court approaching, a group of farmers, predominantly those from Usilampatti Taluk 58 Villages Irrigation Farmers’ Association, led by its president C. Jayaraj, inspected the progress of the work. Public Works Department had mainly highlighted the work to be pending in three main places – two points where the aqueducts connect with the remaining part of the canal and an underbridge where a portion of aqueduct barely above ground level intersects with a road in Teppathupatti village. An PWD official, however, said instead of constructing an underbridge, an alternative arrangement had been made to conduct water from one end of the aqueduct to the other end across the road through pipelines. P. Tamilselvan, a coordinator of the association, said they were glad to see the work finally nearing completion. “Many elders from our villages, who never thought they will see the completion of the project in their lifetime, are now happy,” he said. O. Sivaprakasam, deputy secretary of the association, however, stated that they inspected only the spots where the work was in progress. “These three spots were the places where the work was pending. However, a major portion of the canal was finished years ago and was inside forest area. We are not sure of the condition of the concrete structures and the canals dug in those areas,” he said. “Importantly, though the construction may get over soon, there is no certainty on whether we will get water in the canal. The 58-Canal Scheme will be given the least priority in the sharing of water from Vaigai dam, as they impose unreasonable conditions like Vaigai dam and the Big Tank in Ramanathapuram must get full for us to get water,” he said, adding that it would be another prolonged struggle to get water in the canal.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Latest Madurai headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles

58-Canal Scheme work to be over soon
  • Friday | 16th March, 2018
‘Use ITPS to track post’
  • Tuesday | 16th October, 2018
Suspension term reduced
  • Tuesday | 16th October, 2018
Vacation court
  • Tuesday | 16th October, 2018