Farmers demand urgent repair of Shenbagavalli check dam

Farmers are calling for immediate repairs to the Shenbagavalli check dam in the Western Ghats, near Vasudevanallur in Tenkasi district. They believe the dam is vital for irrigation in Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, and Thoothukudi districts. The request was made during an event on World Water Day, where farmers gathered to discuss the issue. The farmers noted that the Nitchebha River supports irrigation in their farmlands, and that it connects to the Vaippar River. They highlighted that a flood in 1967 damaged a part of the dam, and repair efforts have been ineffective for over twenty years. They criticized the Kerala government for delaying the repairs. A farmer has also taken legal action, going to the Madras High Court to push for urgent repairs. The court ruled that repairs can proceed without needing new forest clearance. M. Arjunan, the general secretary of the Cauvery Vaigai Gundar Kiruthumal Irrigation Farmers’ Federation, explained that fixing the dam would benefits local crops in various towns. In addition to the dam, the farmers are requesting repairs to a 14-km-long cart path that leads to the site from the Tamil Nadu side. They plan to meet again on May 10 at Thenmalai to further discuss the dam's condition.