Then: Vaigai Dam has lost an estimated 15-20% of its storage capacity due to silt accumulation, and it has never been desilted since its construction, according to Minister for Energy and Law C T R Nirmal Kumar. He made the statement during an inspection of the dam near Andipatti on Saturday. District Collector R Vaithinathan and other officials accompanied the minister.
Minister Highlights Silt Issues
Addressing reporters, Nirmal Kumar said review meetings held over the past week revealed that silt deposits account for 15-20% of the reservoir's capacity in the catchment areas. Assessments for desilting are currently underway, and approval has been sought from the Union government to proceed with the work. “Vaigai Dam has not been desilted since its construction. Silt has accumulated in several areas. Though efforts were initiated by previous governments, they were never implemented,” he said.
Desilting Plans and Timeline
The minister stated that the state government plans to expedite the desilting project and begin work within two months, subject to receiving the necessary approvals. “We conducted a preliminary inspection on Saturday, and the desilting work is scheduled to begin within the next two months,” he added.
Farmers Association Responds
Responding to the minister’s remarks, Theni district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, T Kannan, said most dams in India, including Vaigai Dam, have never been desilted. “Several studies on desilting have already been conducted. At one stage, there was a proposal to construct an auxiliary dam instead of spending on desilting, but that plan was dropped. Ultimately, neither proposal materialised,” he said. Kannan also expressed doubts over the feasibility of commencing desilting within two months, noting that the onset of rains could affect the project timeline.
Background and Context
Vaigai Dam, located in Tamil Nadu, is a key water source for irrigation and drinking water in the region. The lack of desilting over decades has reduced its storage capacity, impacting water availability. The current government aims to address this issue through a timely desilting project.
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