Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has submitted a memorandum to Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources Bussy Anand to allocate sufficient funds for desilting the irrigation channels and the tanks in the district.
In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, Mr. Robert Bruce said the 28.80 Km-long Radhapuram Channel, carrying 150 cusecs of surplus water of Petchiparai dam in neighbouring Kanniyakumari district to 52 irrigation tanks in Radhapuram area from June to February every year, was dug by late Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. These 52 irrigation tanks provide water for around 17,000 acres of land.
Besides desilting Radhapuram Channel, the bunds on both sides of the canal should be strengthened.
Since the water released in this channel, also known as ‘Chittar Pattanankal’, can be taken to Arasarkulam, Kodikulam, Kanthurlakulam, Kaduthulakulam, Maravarkulam, Matha Puthukulam, Kothankulam, Azhaganerikulam, Sembalaikulam, Missionkulam, Kamanerikulam, Kurinjikulam, Madhurankulam, Kanarkulam, Koodankulam and Upilipadukulam also, all in Vijayapathi and Koodankulam panchayats, these bone-dry rain-fed tanks should also be included in Radhapuram irrigation channel system by digging new canals or desilting existing channels.
Hence, the Tamil Nadu Government should allocate sufficient funds for desilting the 28.80 km-long Radhapuram Channel, concreting the bunds and dug or desilt the canals taking water from the Radhapuram Channel to the hitherto neglected tanks in Vijayapathi and Koodankulam areas.
The MP said the orderly stacked reinforcement stones along the bunds of Vijayanarayanam tank, which is providing succour to over 3,700 acres of land in Nanguneri Assembly constituency, should be re-laid again as the lashing water of the water body has left the stones in disarray. Hence, sufficient funds should be allocated to stack again the stones in order.
Moreover, the four shutters of Vijayanarayanam tank should be repaired and refitted.
Mr. Robert Bruce also sought funds for constructing a small dam on the lap of the Western Ghats near Kalakkad with the Nettaerian Channel in the mountain as its source. Since the existing Vadakku Pachaiyar Dam in Kakallad has become ineffective with poor influx of water over the past several years, the proposed dam to store water from the Nettaerian Channel would effectively supply water to hitherto uncovered tanks in this area.
If these tanks are filled-up with the water from the proposed reservoir, it will benefit over 1,000 acres of land, Mr. Robert Bruce said.
The MP also sought ₹1.05 crore for repairing the Mathiketan Channel in Chittar Basin in Tenkasi district, also dug by Kamaraj, for taking the water to Alangulam via 16 irrigation tanks and funds for repairing Kaduvetti Periyakulam near Alangulam.
Published - July 15, 2026 07:30 pm IST