The Veeranam tank spread over an expanse of 35 sq km was built by the Chola King Rajaditya, son of Parantaka Chola I in the 10th Century. | Photo Credit: S_S_KUMAR more-in After nearly two years, the water level in Veeranam tank situated in Sethiathoppu in Cuddalore district has reached its full capacity. The level hovered a little above 46.80 feet as against the full capacity of 47.50 feet on Friday. The Veeranam tank is one of the main sources of drinking water to Chennai city and it irrigates about 45,000 acres of agricultural lands in Bhuvanagiri, Kumaratchi, Parangipettai, Keerapalayam and Kattumannarkovil blocks in Cuddalore district. It gets water from the Coleroon and the Vadavar channel. A senior PWD official said that the tank had been receiving an inflow of 800 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of Cauvery water from the Upper Anicut. Water is being discharged into the Vadavar channel from the Lower Anicut. The PWD authorities have stepped up constant monitoring of the tank level and around 540 cusecs of water is being released into the bone dry Perumal tank. The Veeranam tank spread over an expanse of 35 sq. m. was built by the Chola King Rajaditya, son of Parantaka Chola I in the 10th century. According to K.V. Elangeeran, president of Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Federation, “The vast space was used by the Rajaditya Chola for stationing his troops. But when there was slackness in the engagement of the soldiers, the King hit upon the idea of digging the tank using the manpower so that water flowing from the Coleroon could be stored for irrigation. It is believed that the height of water in the tank when it reaches the full capacity would be equal to the kalasams atop the gopuram of Sri Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram. The tank was named as Veeranarayana in memory of his father and later came to be known as Veeranam.” Ryots in Cuddalore district contended that the water available in the tank was meant for agricultural purpose and it should not be taken to Chennai. Although the farmers are now reconciling to the idea of tapping Veeranam water to meet the drinking water requirements of Chennai city, they demand that the authorities pay royalty since farmers are deprived of their source of irrigation. Veeranam tank is a gift of the Cholas to the farmers and the basic principle should not be defeated, said Mr. Elangeeran.

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