14 pure streams in Arunachala Hills cleaned to discharge extra rainwater into Then Pennai river

The Tiruvannamalai Company has cleaned of 14 pure streams, also called ‘Odai‘, in Arunachala Hills close to Arunachaleeswara Temple in Tiruvannamalai city to make sure a easy move of extra rainwater from the hills and to stop inundation of the temple city throughout Northeast monsoon.

Company officers stated that the pure streams within the hills are below the management of the civic physique for a few years. These streams are key to stop waterlogging within the city throughout monsoon. “Common inspection of streams within the hills is being finished to determine any blockage that might forestall the free move of rainwater downstream. New drains are additionally being constructed to attach the streams with close by irrigation. tanks,” S. Ravi, Assistant Engineer (AE), Tiruvannamalai Company, informed. The Hindu,

Together with Company officers, Collector Okay. Tharpagaraj inspected the foothills of Arunachala Hills on Thursday to evaluate the situation of the rocky terrain. He directed the civic officers to take precautionary measures to stop land slips within the hills. On December 1, 2024, seven individuals died after heavy rain triggered a landslide within the hills.

Company officers stated that every stream varies between 1.2 km and 1.8 km in size from the hillock to the city. Every stream, on a median, is 15 meters extensive and 7 meters in depth. Within the downstream, particularly the city space, streams are related to massive drains to discharge the surplus rainwater into irrigation tanks, that are maintained by the Water Assets Division (WRD), earlier than draining into Then Pennai river.

A lot of the drains, which can be related to streams, have been desilted. These drains, on a median, are seven toes extensive and in depth. New drains are additionally below development, particularly on Sattanaickan Road and Pei Gopuram space, at a price of ₹2.8 crore below the fifteenth Finance Fee scheme by the civic physique. “Desilting of the Vengaikal irrigation tank needs to be finished to stop inundation of areas across the Collectorate. Many streams from the hills move into the tank throughout monsoon,” stated Okay. Sampath, a resident.

On its half, the Highways Division has constructed retaining partitions at two recognized spots within the hills to stop land slips throughout monsoon. Every wall is 20 meters lengthy and 10 toes in top. Open areas on the foothills are additionally being leveled to allow the free move of rainwater from the hills.

Forest officers stated that the Arunachala Hills come below the Adi Annamalai Reserve Forest, with over 900 hectares, spreading 9 km radius. The hill, situated at 2,668 feet-high from the imply sea-level, is the place a hearth is lit atop the hillock as a part of the Maha Deepam pageant yearly. The land across the foothills, to a distance of six kms, belongs to the Income Division whereas the remaining space within the hills are forests.