Farmers in Villupuram, Puducherry call for early steps to repair Sornavur anicut across Thenpennai River

With the anicut across the Thenpennai River at Sornavur in Villupuram remaining in a highly dilapidated condition over the past one year, farmers’ representatives from Villupuram and neighbouring Puducherry have called upon the Tamil Nadu and the Puducherry Governments to take up expeditious repair of the anicut.

Though the Sornavur anicut is located in Villupuram taluk, the funds for taking up repair and maintenance are borne by the Puducherry Government while its operation is under the control of the Tamil Nadu Government under a bilateral agreement.

Prior to the construction of the anicut, water was diverted from the Pennaiyar River into the Bangaru channel by means of Korambu (barrier) by the local ryots. Therefore, the necessity for the construction of an anicut across the river was keenly felt by the Puducherry Government and the anicut was built 306 metres of the head sluice to Bangaru channel in the line of the Korambu to give assured supply to the Bangaru channel.

The anicut is a vital structure from where the water is diverted to the Bangaru Vaickal bringing water to several irrigation tanks in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry including the major tank of Bahour.

A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) said the anicut remained in a highly dilapidated condition since 2021. Though repair work of the anicut commenced, the work was halted due to Cyclone Fengal. The anicut suffered extensive damages during Cyclone Fengal following the discharge of over two lakh cusecs of water into the Thenpennai River.

“Though the anicut was designed to handle 1,80,000 cusecs of water, around 2,42,000 cusecs was discharged into the anicut following floods in the wake of Cyclone Fengal. As a result, the energy dissipating arrangements of the Anicut such as cement concrete blocks and the launching apron were completely eroded. The downstream side riverbed also scoured beyond the depth of the side cutoff wall and the bank protection works such as revetments, toe walls on both sides of the anicut were eroded,” the official explained.

“Out of the total estimated repair cost of ₹39 crore, a sum of ₹10 crore has already been incurred for the preliminary work. A file has been sent to the WRD seeking permission whether to dismantle the existing structure and build it upstream or redesign the anicut. A final decision is awaited while funds are yet to be sanctioned by the Puducherry Government for taking up repair works,” the official added.

Commissioned in 1970, the anicut feeds a total of 21 tanks – eight tanks in Tamil Nadu and 13 tanks in Puducherry State. The total ayacut fed by Bangaru Channel is 6053.11 acres. This includes 1275.11 acres in Tamil Nadu and 4478 acres in Puducherry. In addition, an ayacut of 1822.66 acres in Tamil Nadu limits is benefitted through open off take channels below the anicut.

According to V. Chandrasekhar, president of Bangaru Vaickal Neeradhara Koottamaippu, a water users’ association, the delay in taking up repair work of the Sornavur anicut has caused loss of huge volumes of water. Though a work order to the tune of ₹39 crore was issued to take up reconstruction of the anicut, the work was halted midway. Though Puducherry received good rain, the Bahour tank did not receive water due to the damaged anicut, and a huge volume of water drained into the sea.

“Though repeated representations have been made to the authorities concerned to immediately resume work on the Sornavur anicut, it has not evoked any response so far. Unless the repair work of the anicut is taken up on a war-footing, Puducherry will be losing the surplus rainwater that will be diverted to the waterbodies in the region. The Puducherry Government should immediately release funds to restart work on the anicut,” Mr. Chandrasekhar said.

An official in the Tamil Nadu WRD said the Department had proposed renovation of the anicut with reconstruction of the toe wall upstream and downstream of the structure. “We have also proposed an apron downstream of the anicut and strengthening of the flood banks. By the renovation of this anicut the existing ayacut will be ensured,” he said.