Tamil Nadu: Thirupparankundram’s major irrigation tank Thenkal Kanmai runs dry

MADURAI: The ‘Thenkal Kanmoi’, a major irrigation tank situated in the Thirupparankundram area of Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, has completely dried up due to extreme heat, raising serious concerns among farmers and local residents who depend on it for irrigation and drinking water.

Spanning an area of 377 acres, the Thenkal Kanmoi is one of the major water bodies in Madurai. It has a storage capacity of 107 million cubic feet and is typically replenished by water released from the Vaigai Dam through the Nilaiyur canal. However, this season, the tank has remained bone dry, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather conditions and inadequate water management.

The drying up of the tank has significantly impacted both farming operations and daily life in the area. With no water available, agricultural activities have come to a halt, and residents are facing severe water shortages.

Local farmers and residents have appealed to the authorities to take immediate steps to desilt and deepen the tank. They emphasised the urgent need to improve water flow infrastructure to ensure a consistent and adequate water supply during future monsoon seasons. Without timely intervention, they fear the crisis could worsen in the coming years.

While speaking, a social activist, Arivuselvam, said, “The past summer was extremely harsh, and we are still feeling its impact. As a result, all the tanks in Madurai have completely dried up. None of the tanks in Madurai has been desilted. With the monsoon about to begin in Tamil Nadu, the government must urgently desilt all the tanks.”

“As all the tanks in Madurai have not been desilted, the public is facing severe difficulties. Therefore, it would be beneficial if the government takes appropriate action”, said Pream, a local. (ANI)