The Grand Anicut Canal and the Kallaperambur lake in the district have been given a facelift utilising funds sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).While modernisation of the canal had been done on a major scale using Rs. 250 crore from the fund, the lake had been improved using Rs.4.27 crore.After desilting, strengthening of bunds and improvements to the inlet Ananda Cauvery channel, water was now being stored to the tank’s full capacity of 1.25 metres.The channel had been desilted to a distance of 22 km and a retaining wall constructed at Ayanavaram where the canal used to breach during floods every year.
Eight sluices along the canal had been renovated.“The lake was losing its water retention capacity due to silt. We could take up samba transplantation in this area this time easily,” said farmers from Kallaperambur, Thennankudi, Seeralur and Sakkarasamandham, who were benefited by the lake. The lake had an ayacut of 6,004 acres.Union Minister of State for Finance S. S. Palani Manickam recently visited the lake along with PWD engineers who executed the work.There was a proposal for declaring the lake a bird sanctuary as many winged visitors arrived here.According to Thirunavukarasu, Wildlife Warden, Nagapattinam, 35 species of birds visited the lake. They include Open Bill Stork, three types of egrets, darter, cormorants, White Ibis, ducks, teals, Grey Heron, Pond Heron and pelicans.“Declaration of the lake as a bird sanctuary has to be done by the Government. Now we are appointing two bird protection watchers,” Mr. Thirunavukarasu said. Improvements executed by the PWD would help attract more winged visitors.
The Hindu, November 1st , 2009
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