Two small check dams at watershed points in Sanangkupam village, near Ambur town, in Tirupattur were damaged on Saturday, after a group of people allegedly laid a road illegally to provide easy access to a private stone quarry at the foot of a hillock near the village.
Residents said Sanangkupam was a farming village with at least 2,000 hectares under paddy and groundnut cultivation. Water from the damaged check dams were their major source of irrigation. The excess rainwater from the check dams fills up a few lakes and ponds in the areas before flowing into the Palar.
“The check dams help us save excess rainwater from the hillock and nearby drains to irrigate agricultural lands in several villages. They also help recharge groundwater. Severe action must be taken against those who damaged them,” said K. Muglian, a farmer.
