தமிழக நீர் நிலைகள்
தமிழகத்தில் குளங்கள், நீர்நிலைகள் என 50 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னால் 40,000க்கும் மேலான எண்ணிக்கையில் இருந்தன. செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்தை ஏரி மாவட்டம் என்று அழைப்பது உண்டு. அங்குள்ள குளங்கள் சமூக விரோதிகளால் கபளீகரம் செய்து, தங்களுடைய சுயலாபத்துக்காக வீட்டுமனைகளை அமைத்து விற்றுவிட்டனர். இருக்கின்ற குளங்கள் இன்றைக்கு 40,000க்கு சரிபாதியாகிவிட்டது. இருக்கின்ற குளங்களிலும் கருவேல மரங்கள். மழைபெய்தாலும் நீர்நிலை உருவாக்கிக்கொண்டு சேமிக்க முடியவில்லை. ஆறுகளில் கொடியவர்கள் மணல் அள்ளிவிட்டனர். இதை கேள்வி கேட்கவும் முடியவில்லை. இவ்வாறான இயற்கை நீர்நிலைகளை தூர் வாறி ஆயக்காட்டு மக்கள் ஒன்றுகூடி கூட்டுறவாக நீர்நிலையை பாதுகாக்கவேண்டிய கடமையில் உள்ளனர். சில இடங்களில் சொந்த முயற்சிகளில் பணிகள் நடக்கின்றன. இவையெல்லாம் சுயநலமில்லாமல் செய்கின்ற நல்ல உள்ளங்களும் இன்றைக்கு வாழ்கின்றனர். இந்த நிலையில் தமிழக அரசோ நீர்நிலைகளை பாதுகாக்கக் கூடிய நடவடிக்கைகளை இதுவரை சரியாக எடுக்கவும் இல்லை. அதை ஒழுங்குப்படுத்தவும் இல்லை. இது குறித்து சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்குத் தொடுப்பதற்கு முன்பு தமிழக அரசின் தலைமை செயலாளர், வருவாய்த் துறை செயலாளர், பொதுப்பணித் துறை செயலாளருக்கு நான் அனுப்பிய கடிதத்தின் நகல் இதோ.
ஏற்கெனவே 30 ஆண்டுகாலம் போராடி உச்சநீதிமன்ற நெடியப் படிகளை ஏறி இந்திய நதிகளை கங்கை, காவிரி, வைகை, தாமிரபரணி, குமரி நெய்யாறு வரை இணைக்கவேண்டும் என்றும், கேரளாவில் பாயும் அச்சன்கோவில்-பம்பை தமிழகத்தில் சாத்தூர் அருகே உள்ள வைப்பாற்றில் இணைக்கவேண்டும் என்று எனது பொதுநல வழக்கில் தீர்ப்பை பெற்றவன். அதன்பிறகு மத்திய அரசு பணிகளை ஓரளவு துவக்கினாலும் மனதளவில் திருப்தி இல்லை. போராட வேண்டிய நிலையில் இருப்பதால் உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் தமிழக நீர்நிலைகளை பாதுகாக்கக் கோரி உரிய மனுவை தாக்கல் செய்ய உள்ளேன் என்பதை தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். ஏற்கனவே இது குறித்து விவசாய சங்கங்கள் என்னிடம் கோரிக்கையாக வைத்தன. மதுரையில் நடந்த விவசாயிகள் கலந்துரையாடல் கூட்டத்திலும் இது குறித்து உறுதி தந்தேன். அதற்கான முயற்சிதான் இது.
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To Date: 23.08.2016
1. The
Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai 600 009.
Chief Secretary,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai 600 009.
2. The
Secretary,
Revenue Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
Secretary,
Revenue Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
3. The
Secretary,
Public Works Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
Secretary,
Public Works Department,
Government of Tamil Nadu,
Fort St. George,
Chennai – 600 009.
Sirs,
I am sending this representation
apropos Tanks under the control of the PWD and Local Bodies.
apropos Tanks under the control of the PWD and Local Bodies.
I refer you to Tamil Nadu Estates (Abolition
and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act 1948 and Tamil Nadu Act 49 of 1974 amending
the same. It is declared that patta granted by the Government in respect of
Private Tanks stands cancelled and have become public tanks.
and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act 1948 and Tamil Nadu Act 49 of 1974 amending
the same. It is declared that patta granted by the Government in respect of
Private Tanks stands cancelled and have become public tanks.
The revenue records will clearly
reveal the number of tanks, their extent and their utility in respect of
agriculture and drinking water.
reveal the number of tanks, their extent and their utility in respect of
agriculture and drinking water.
It is learnt that there were about
40,000 Tanks in Tamil Nadu and more than 20,000 Tanks have disappeared. Out of 5000
Tanks in and around Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur Districts only 2600
survive.
40,000 Tanks in Tamil Nadu and more than 20,000 Tanks have disappeared. Out of 5000
Tanks in and around Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur Districts only 2600
survive.
The rich and powerful have built
hospitals and educational institutions in public tanks. It is imperative that
the old survey records should be verified and the tanks that have disappeared
have to be identified and recovered from the encroachers.
hospitals and educational institutions in public tanks. It is imperative that
the old survey records should be verified and the tanks that have disappeared
have to be identified and recovered from the encroachers.
The existing tanks are also
truncated and if the Government is serious they can identify the exact extent
of the tanks with the help of revenue records and retrieve the entire tank for
the use and welfare of the general public.
truncated and if the Government is serious they can identify the exact extent
of the tanks with the help of revenue records and retrieve the entire tank for
the use and welfare of the general public.
The tanks are meant to store water
for the welfare of the public. Irrigation and drinking water facilities will
improve only if steps are taken to preserve the tanks which are meant for the
public.
for the welfare of the public. Irrigation and drinking water facilities will
improve only if steps are taken to preserve the tanks which are meant for the
public.
The rain water harvesting will have
no meaning if our tanks are destroyed. In the villages we do not have swimming
pools. The tanks are natural pools for the entire population. The villagers are
entitled to use the tank for all purposes including fishing.
no meaning if our tanks are destroyed. In the villages we do not have swimming
pools. The tanks are natural pools for the entire population. The villagers are
entitled to use the tank for all purposes including fishing.
The tank bunds should be
strengthened and sluices should be properly maintained. The village people
should be allowed to remove the sediments to use the same as natural manure for
the paddy fields, groves and orchards. The tanks cannot be used for the purpose
of controlling the right of the local population and to enrich the businessmen
who exploit natural resources with business motive.
strengthened and sluices should be properly maintained. The village people
should be allowed to remove the sediments to use the same as natural manure for
the paddy fields, groves and orchards. The tanks cannot be used for the purpose
of controlling the right of the local population and to enrich the businessmen
who exploit natural resources with business motive.
Karuvelam Trees (Prosopis
juliflora) are poisonous and scientists have been demanding removal of the same
for the health of the water body and environment. The Government should take
immediate steps to remove Karuvelam Trees which are occupying majority of our
tanks. After removing such trees the Government should organise parks and
natural environments to preserve the ecology.
juliflora) are poisonous and scientists have been demanding removal of the same
for the health of the water body and environment. The Government should take
immediate steps to remove Karuvelam Trees which are occupying majority of our
tanks. After removing such trees the Government should organise parks and
natural environments to preserve the ecology.
The Government have
failed to preserve the natural water bodies. This results in natural fury.
failed to preserve the natural water bodies. This results in natural fury.
There is severe water
shortage even in towns like towns in Kanyakumari District, an area which
receives plenty of rain during Southwest and Northeast Monsoons because of
destruction of the tanks. Big tanks have been converted as bus stands by the
Government. The same condition is
prevailing every district all over Tamil Nadu.
shortage even in towns like towns in Kanyakumari District, an area which
receives plenty of rain during Southwest and Northeast Monsoons because of
destruction of the tanks. Big tanks have been converted as bus stands by the
Government. The same condition is
prevailing every district all over Tamil Nadu.
There are several
documentaries published by researchers, newspapers and the electronic media
about the cause for inundation of Chennai City, loss of life and colossal loss
of property. However the Government appears to be indifferent.
documentaries published by researchers, newspapers and the electronic media
about the cause for inundation of Chennai City, loss of life and colossal loss
of property. However the Government appears to be indifferent.
In public interest I
request you to constitute an expert committee with officials from Revenue, PWD
and Environmental Departments to identify the water bodies which have been lost
and also the status of the existing water bodies for taking immediate steps for
restoration of the water bodies and their preservation.
request you to constitute an expert committee with officials from Revenue, PWD
and Environmental Departments to identify the water bodies which have been lost
and also the status of the existing water bodies for taking immediate steps for
restoration of the water bodies and their preservation.
Yours Truly,
(K.S. RADHAKRISHNAN)
