IRRIGATION
Unlike other Districts in
Tamil Nadu State, Kanyakumari is receiving a fairly good
rainfall from both South-West and North-East monsoons. The
period of South West Monsoon is from June to September.
While that of North-East Monsoon is from October to
December. RIVERS: Rivers provide the important source of Irrigation in Kanyakumari District. There are 5 of them, as shown below. Follow this link to view the Irrigation Map of Kanyakumari District .
DAMS: There are 6 Dams constructed in these rivers.
CHANNELS: There are 6 Channels in the District.
The major river in the district is Thambaraparani locally known as Kuzhithuraiar. This river has got two major distributaries namely Kodayar and Paralayar. There are many distributaries for Kodayar river of which Chittar I and Chittar II and major ones. The origin of Tambaraparani River is Western Ghats and the river confluences with Arabian sea near Thengapattanam, at a distance of about 56 Km. west of Cape Commorin, the southern most tip of India. Valliar, another small river and its tributary Thoovalar, originate from Velimalai Hills, collect the drainage from P.P. Channel and its branches, ayacuts and confluence with Arabian sea near Manavalakurichi.
Pazhayar another small river
starts at Shorlacode, a place about 18 Km north west of
Nagercoil. This is mainly a drainage river mostly
collecting the drainages of Thovalai, Ananthanar and N.P.
Channels
PECHIPARAI DAM
The European Engineer Mr.
Minchin constructed Pechiparai Dam during the period
1897-1906. This was built across Kodayar River about a
mile below the confluence of the tributaries Kallar, Sittar
and Kuttiyar at Pechiparai a place 11 Km. North of
Kulasekaram and is 45 K.M. from Nagercoil. The cost of
original construction was Rs. 26.1 Lakhs. The Dam is a straight gravity type masonry dam of 425.5 M. long and 120.70 M. high above the deepest foundation. There is not inspection gallery.
PERUNCHANI DAM
This dam was built during the
period 1948 – 1953 by the erstwhile T.C. State. This was
built across River Paralayar at Perunchani, a place about 10
K.M. East of Kulasekaram and about 42 K.M. North-West of
Nagercoil. It is across a picturesque valley between 2
hillocks forming an ideal site.
The dam is straight gravity
masonry dam of 373.10 M long consisting of 275.28 M of bulk
head section. A drainage gallery of 1.52
´ 2.29 M. has been
provided in the middle river section for a length of 45.70
M which serves a longitudinal inspection chamber as well as
out-let for the seepages from the foundation.
CHITTAR DAM-I
The Chittar Dam I is
constructed across River Chittar I which has its source in
the mountains in Klamala Reserve Forest, near Ettukani and
Vandiplavukani at an elevation of over 2000 Ft. above
M.S.L. and is it about 2.00 Km up-stream of the confluence
of the River with Kodayar.
CHITTAR
DAM-II
It is constructed across
River Chittar II which has its source in Klamala Reserve
Forest at an elevation of about 2300 Ft. above M.S.L. and is
at about 2.00 Km. up stream on the southern and eastern
slopes of Kurinchimalai and after running for 10.00 Km.
merge at Sivalogam estate to form Chittar II and then flows
for 4.8 Km and joins with Kodayar.
NEYYAR
DAM
Neyyar Dam situated in Kerala
State is the source of supply for Kanyakuamari Branch
Channel. It takes off from the left Bank Channel of Neyyar
at Km 38.616. Normally 152 c/s to be available at
Kollengodu head works for the ayacut in Tamil Nadu.
DESCRIPTION OF KODAYAR SYSTEM
The water of the Pechiparai
is taken along the left bank canal to Puthen dam across the
Paraliyar. Puthen dam is the main head works of the entire
system when water of the Pechiparai and Perunchani meet. At
the head works, these waters are flown into Pandiankal and
Padmanabhapuram Puthanar. The Pandiyankal after running for
about 2.5 Km. forks into two at Chellanthurithy. One of
the left side called the Thovalai Channel and the other on
the right side called the Regulator kal. The
Padmanabhapuram Puthanar irrigates vast tracks land in
Kalkulam Taluk. Thovalai channel extends upto Tirunelveli
District by the name of Radhapuram channel. The Regulator
Kal after running for about 1.6 Km bifurcate into two at
Surulacode, one on the right called the Anandanar Channel
and other on the left Pazhayar. The pazhayar carries the
entire drainage of the Valley. The main irrigation channel
under Pazhayar is the Nanjil Nadu Puthanar taking off at the
Chattuputhoor Anicut. Besides then there are 10 other
anicuts across thee course of the Pazhayar before it drains
into the sea.
The water of Chittar I and
II are flown into the left bank canal of the Kodayar at the
5th Km and draw off at the 10.15 Km by the
Pattanamkal channel. This channel irrigates vast areas lying
between Tambraparni and Padmanabhapuram Channel in
Kalkulam. Besides there is an anicut across the Paraliyar
called Aruvikarai anicut irrigating about 266 Ha. of paddy
land. There is a similar anicuts across Kodayar at
Thirparappu irrigating about 258 Ha. The left bank canal of the Neyyar dam which is situated in Kerala State, irrigates part of the lands in Vilavancode Taluks. The left bank construction work commenced during the year 1959and completed in 1963. An amount if 90.03 lakhs was sanctioned for the execution of this work; An area of 1536 Ha is benefited by the implementation of Neyyar Irrigation project. Kindly follow this link to view the Flow Diagram of Kodaiyar Irrigation System
|