Clear Uyyakondan canal of weeds: Forum

The district administration and the civic body recently removed the encroachments along Uyyakondan river, a sub-canal of Cauvery, from Pettaivaithalai to Valavanthankottai for the benefit more than 32,000 acre agriculture land in Tiruchy region. However, now the canal is covered with thick vegetation which prevents free flow of water to all its branch canals. Farmers complain that the sub-canals were not desilted for years giving room for growing vegetation. 

Residents said sub-canals such as Kodikal, which benefited farmers belonging to Ettarai, Koppu, Seerathope and Anthanallur block have been buried, since the vegetation obliterated them with its humongous leaves. 

The Uyyakondan river which was divided from Cauvery long back by the King Rajaraja Cholan for the irrigation that has been playing a major water source for irrigation in the Tiruchy region including Srirangam, Pettavaithalai, Tirverumbur and Valavanthankottai and later extended to Boothalur, Serandi kulam in Thanjavur district. 

The Uyyakondan river which has been flowing for around 75 km with 120 branch canals and 33 ponds through which an area of 32,740 acre land has been benefiting for irrigation directly and crops like sugarcane, turmeric, banana, betel leaves along with paddy have been cultivated in the region.