Encroachments on waterbodies and their feeder channels, coupled with inadequate rainwater storage, have raised concerns over groundwater depletion and recurring drought in Thalavadi taluk, where people depend on ponds and tanks for drinking water, agriculture, and livestock.
Highlighting the issue in a representation to Collector S. Kandasamy, environmental activist Shuail Ahmed said the taluk has 142 waterbodies, of which 39 have a water spread of more than three hectares. Many of these waterbodies, particularly in Thalavadi, Hasanur, Mallanguli, Diginarai and Bynapuram panchayats, have failed to retain rainwater because of encroachments on the tanks and their feeder channels, he alleged.
Mr. Ahmed said nearly 30,000 people in Thalavadi and Hasanur blocks depend on these waterbodies for drinking water, livestock, and agriculture. However, scanty rainfall in recent years led to crop failure and depletion of groundwater. Crops had withered within a month in several places, while borewells sunk up to 1,200 feet failed to yield water. Groundwater, which was available at depths of 300 to 500 feet a few years ago, has declined sharply, he added.
According to Mr. Ahmed, a substantial portion of the rainwater received in Thalavadi flows into the Chikkahole and Suvarnavathy reservoirs in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district, which together have a storage capacity of about 2.5 tmc ft. Retaining the runoff in local waterbodies by desilting ponds and restoring feeder channels will improve groundwater recharge and help mitigate drought.
