After several years, Madurantakam tank, one of the major and ancient irrigation tanks in Chengalpattu district, is set to undergo a major desilting exercise with the support of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
With the southwest monsoon remaining 55% deficient in the district so far, the tank has less than one-third of its storage capacity. Many of the 528 tanks in the district have 50% or less of their storage capacity.
Restoring the tank’s original storage capacity is imperative as it is a significant source for irrigation and drinking water for several villages. The initiative aims to recover the lost storage of 94 mcft. and enhance groundwater recharge in the surrounding areas.
The work, inaugurated on Friday, is being carried out jointly by the Chengalpattu district administration and the Water Resources Department (WRD) with CSR support. Spread over 1,058 hectares, the tank ‘s restoration history dates back to 1798, when the then collector Lionel Place renovated the water body.
Sources in the WRD said considerable quantities of silt had accumulated on the tank bed over the years, reducing its storage capacity. Systematic desilting of the tank would help optimise storage at 791 million cubic feet and sustain irrigation across nearly 3,077.49 hectares of ayacut through the Madurantakam tank system.
