Chapter I
EARLY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN KANYAKUMARI
DISTRICT
The irrigation system of Kanyakumari District dates back to pre-sangam
period. The Ay kings who ruled between 4th century B.C. and 9th century A.D.
showed keen interests in developing the irrigation system. Sangam literature
like Purananooru, Padittupattu, Madurai Kanchi makes mention not only about
Nanjilnad but the whole district.1 The irrigation system of the district can be
divided into natural and manmade. They are sub-divided into the rivulets,
streams, lakes and rainfed or manmade ponds.2
The manmade irrigation
systems are dams, canals, aquaducts, check dams and tanks. These irrigational
systems supply sufficient water for irrigation. But the frequent invasions of the
Pandyas, the Cholas and Nayaks destroyed the water courses and they caused
problems to the peasants and the people.
Rivers
By rivers one should not compare the rivers of Kanyakumari district
with big rivers like Vaigai, Cauvery, Krishna and Kothavari. The existing
small rivers are considered to be ‘rivers’ from time immemorial. Further for the
1
Mrs. Grace Lal Mohan, Historical Background on the Wetlands of Kanyakumari District,
Ecology of the Wet Land in Kanyakumari District, Nagercoil, 1999, p. 5.
2
Ibid.
38
existing geographical situation calling them as rivers is correct and hence it is
justified.
The entire Kanyakumari district is endowed with a number of canals and
conveyance channels.
The end and aim of the conveyance system is to
maximize production by harnessing the waters of the streams, rivulets and
rivers. Besides the major rivers such as Kothaiyar, paraliyar, Pazhayar and
Chittar, there are other small rivers such as Alathuraiyar, Valliyar,
Mampazhathuraiyar and Mullaiyar.
There are also the rivulets running in
different parts of the district. Pannivaikal, Pampoorivaikal, Alenchy vaikal,
Puttetivaikal, Paruthivaikal and Shenkodivaikal are the other major drainage
streams.
Besides these there are number of hill streams which potentially
supply sufficient water during the monsoon months.3
As the rivers in the district are running on lowbeds, artificial irrigation
was practised for centuries. The Kakkachal dam is a classical example to
confirm this fact. Establishment of rights4 over Nanjilnad and the economic
development forced the victor or the vanquished to initiate new projects. One
such project was Pandyan Dam and the canal system under its command was
constructed centuries ago. It was aimed at protective irrigation to the fertile
Nanjilnad. Pandyankal delivered water through the Palayar system. But the
3
Sathyanesan, V., The Canal Irrigation System of Kanyakumari District and its present
Status, Ecology of the Wetlands of Kanyakumari District, pp. 17-18.
4
Government of Travancore, Travancore Directory, 1939, p. 433.
39
dam and the mechanical devices were designed and made by using the best
engineering skills were destroyed during the Chera and Chola conflicts.5 In
spite of that the system continued, as the chief source of distribution of water
until the Nanjilnad Puthanar channel was constructed in 1750 by the King
Marthanda Varma of Travancore. He was responsible for constructing the
Puthen Dam a few miles below the Pandyan dam and two canals, namely the
Padmanabhapuram Puthen channel and Nachinad Puthanar as supplementary
irrigation sources to the old wetlands in the Kalkulam, Thovalai and
Agastheeswaram taluks.6
In course of time they proved to be insufficient because of the seasonal
failure of monsoons.
Crop failures caused constrain to the collection of
revenue. The government had to face the loss of revenue and remissions made
consequent upon the crop failures.7 Thestwo systems, the Westkal and East
Main channel, Krishnankoil, Asaripallam and Karavilai branches take off from
the East Main channel.
It continues its course delivering water to its
distributaries such as the Athikarai channel, Kottar and Thengamputhur
branches forced the government to seek for complementary scheme to augment
the supply of water for irrigation to increase productivity. Hence in 1837, the
Kothaiyar project was proposed to irrigate agricultural operations at Kalkulam,
5
Nagam Aiya, V., op.cit., 1906, p. 25.
6
Sathyanesan, V., op.cit., p. 18.
7
Important Papers relating to the Kothaiyar Project, Vol. III, n.p.
40
Eraniel, Thovalai and Agastheeswaram taluks. Consequently the Pechipparai
project was proposed to minimize the wastage of water. But nothing could be
materialized. Dewan Nanu Pillai, in 1877 gave life to this project. Yet again
the proposal did not materialize, on the other hand the government attempted to
renovate and repair the existing canals. But it could not meet the irrigational
needs of the people. Repeated crop failures caused much constrain to the state
exchequer. Finally the Kothaiyar project was materialized by integrating the
old distribution system under its command. The water reaches Chellamthurai.
At this place it was divided into Thovalai channel after running about 30 miles
forked into Nilapparai and Marutuvalmalai and irrigate to the tail enders. The
regular channel travels a short distance and reaches Surulucode where begins
the Anandanar system. Besides these there are rivers like Palayar and other
rivers irrigate Kanyakumari District.
Palayar
River Pazhayar was called Pahruliyar in ancient times. Silapathikaram,
the Tamil epic confirms the statement.8 The word Palayar in Tamil means ‘old
river’. Tradition states that when Lord Indra built the temple at Suchindrum,
the elephant Iravatam dug a river especially for the temple with its tusk. Hence
8
Sitaram Gurumoorthi, Handbook of Kanyakumari District, Tamilnad State Department of
Archaeology, Madras, 2008, p. 45.
41
this river is called Dandanati.9 The other name of the river is Vadaseri river.10
Palayar was about hundred-yard width during the early period and provided
with a series of anicuts otherwise called the check-dams, from them and the
supplementary channels water is distributed to a number of tanks and streams in
Nanchilnad. The streams and small canals serve the district well so that water
supply in the district remains satisfactory.11
Palayar was formed by the flow of a number of streams from the
secondary range of Sahyadri.
They drain the nearby estates and join the
palayar. It runs a course of 37 to 40 kilometers touching historically important
places like Boothapandy, thazhakudi, Vadassery, Kottar, Suchindrum and runs
south and southeastward and merges with Manakudy estuary.12
There are a number of branches which take their courses from the river.
They are the Anandanar, Pallikondankal, Payodkal, Mettukkal, Arasayarkal,
Velavadikal, Terakal, Perumkalayar, Parakkaikal, Suchindram Kal and
Manakudyankal. Of these, the Perumkalayar has fallen into disuse and the area
irrigated by it is now included under the Puthenar canal which was constructed
by Marthanda Varma in 1748 and Anethanar, the former is lying in the west
and the latter to the east of Palayar. The extent of cultivation covered by the
9
Danda – means tusk, nadi in Tamil means river.
10
Gopalakrishnan, M., op.cit., p. 5.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid., p. 6.
42
Palayar valley including these two branches is 16,959 hactares. Beyond this,
taking into account of cultivation of paddy in Nanjilnad, the ancient rulers
constructed eleven check dams in Palayar.
They are Veerapuli dam,
Pallikondan dam, Chattupudur dam, Sabari dam, Cholakuthu dam, Kutty dam,
Veeranamangalam dam, Kumari dam, Pillaipetha dam and Mission dam.13
The Veerapuli dam was made by the Venad ruler Bhuthala Sri Veera
Udayal Marthandavarma in 1745.14 Pallikondam dam was made during the
reign of Marthandavarma the Venad King in 1749. The Kutty dam was made
ready by the Pandya kings who invaded Nanjilnad. The Pallikondam dam,
Chettupudur dam were formed by King Marthandavarma after he conquered the
kingdom and established Travancore kingdom.15
The Pillaipetha dam was
construted during the rule of Venad kings. The Cholakuttu dam was made by
the Chola kings.16
The Mission dam was constructed during 1815, by
Ringletaube the pioneering missionary. He got paddy fields at Thamaraikulam
as a donation from Rani Gauri Lekshmi Bai, between 1811-1815 through the
influence of Col. Munro, to meet the expenses of running schools. These are
the man made dams very small in size. These are otherwise called ‘thaduppu
13
Mrs. Grace Lal Mohan, op.cit., p. 9.
14
Pillaipetha dam is called so because at the course of its construction a pregnant woman
who came to take bath, delivered a child.
15
Sitaram Gurumoorthy, op.cit., p 28.
16
Mrs. Grace Lal Mohan, op.cit., pp. 8-9.
43
annais’ made to irrigate the paddy fields which are higher from the river beds.
Water collected in such way is passed through small sluices.
Palayar collects the entire drain of the valley and irrigate Nanjilnad.
Taking off from Chattuputhur dam, through canals it irrigates a considerable
area of land in Nanjilnad. After feeding numerous tanks, it split up into minor
distributaries called Mettukkal and Variyurkal.17
The main Palayar passes
through Boothapandi, Thazhakudi, Kottar, Suchindrum and enters the
Manakudy estuary. The left discharge starting from the left of Puthen dam runs
towards the south and reaches Adayamadai head work.18 From Adayamadi it is
divided
into
Erattaikarai
channel
and
splitted
off
into
Thottyiode,
Madathattuvilai, Kandanvilai, Mallancode, Koduppaikuzhi distributaries and
reaches Rajakkamangalam. The Rajakkamangalam branch has some minor
distributaries like Santhapuram, Murungavillai and Azhaganvilai branches.19
The Thiruvithancode channel has some distributaries like the Eraniel
branch, Neyyoor distributary, Colachel branch and Cheramangalam branch.
The Amaravilai branch reaches Thickanamcode. From Thickanamcode it runs
towards the south, transferred into the Pamboorivaikal and enters the sea at
17
Mrs. Grace Lal Mohan, op.cit., pp. 8-9.
18
Sathianesan, V., op.cit., p. 18.
19
Ibid., pp. 19-20.
44
Colachel.20 Thus the Palayar irrigation system not only satisfies Nanchilnad but
Edanad also.
The Palayar system irrigates the following areas
20
Palayar Kal
15821 acres
Anandanar Main Channel
9902 acres
West kal
776 acres
A.K. Kal
475.57 acres
Krishnancoil Kal
496.99 acres
Asaripallam channel
723.41 acres
Karavilai Channel
825.41 acres
East Main
333.25 acres
Athikadai channel
1141 acres
Thengamputhur Channel
883 acres
Kottar channel
449 acres
Veerapuli kal
259.09 acres
Kutty Dam kal
119.82 acres
Pallikondan kal
286.29 acres
Peyode Kal
112.29 acres
Nanchil Nadu Puthanar Channel
8900 acres
Arasiyar kal
661.72 acres
Sathianesan, V., op.cit., p. 21.
45
Vilavadi kal
484.43 acres
Suchindram kal
986.29 acres
Manakudiyan kal
600 acres
Pila petha Dam kal
207.91 acres
Mission Dam Kal
119.19 acres
Nilaparai Channel
5756 acres
Radhapuram channel
17000 acres21
Thus the Palayar system of irrigation is useful for Agastheeswaram and
Thovalai taluks.
The Paraliyar Irrigation System
River Paraliyar originates in the hills found on the north of Mahendragiri
mountain at an attitude of 1600 metres above the sea level and flows south and
southwestern direction. It is intercepted by Perunchani dam. It receives water
from Pechipparai dam through the left bank channel before it reaches the weir
called Puthen dam.22 It is understood that it is the earliest irrigation system in
the whole of South Travancore.23 The engineers of the Pandyan rulers suggest
that about thousand years ago the Pandyan kings constructed a dam called
Pandyan dam. The dam was twenty feet height. It was built of massive square
21
Executive Engineer, P.W.D. Flowchart, Palayar Irrigation System.
22
Gopalakrishnan, op.cit., p. 6.
23
Velupillai, T.K., op.cit., p. 414.
46
stones across the Paraliar and cut a channel through solid rock for a distance of
about two miles or three kilometers through the saddle forming the extreme
water shed.24 The Pandyan canal which was an engineering marvel conducts
the water into Palayar where eleven anicuts were constructed to carry water for
agriculture in Nanjilnad within a distance of twenty miles. There were eight
principal channels besides minor channels. By 1750 A.D., another dam known
as the Puthen dam was constructed to irrigate Edanad. A channel called the
Padmanabapuram Puthanar was also constructed to carry water to Edanad. This
canal carries water to a portion of Kalkulam taluk.25 But these two works were
not sufficient to supply water to Nanjilnad and Edanad with the available
quantity of water for irrigation.26
In July 1881, Dewan Ramaiyar made an official tour through the
Southern taluks of Travancore in the course of which he minutely inspected the
irrigation work at Nanjilnad. He found that the progress of the work was found
to be unsatisfactory, so he immediately ordered the Chief Engineer to take
immediate steps to bring about an improvement.
On his part, the Chief
Engineer reported that four works to be carried out immediately.
1. To stop the leakage of the Puthen dam immediately
2. Widening and improving the Pandyan kal
24
Nagam Aiya, V., op.cit, Vol. III, pp. 102-104.
25
Velupillai, T.K., op.cit., p. 414.
26
Ibid.
47
3. Complete restoration of Padmanabhapuram Puthanar dam and
4. Recommended for a new channel from Thiruparappu weir system to
irrigate the Vilavancode taluk.27
But the works were carried out
partially.
River Thambraparani
Thambraparni is the other name of Kuzhithurai river. It is formed near
Thiruvattar by the merger of the Paraliyar and the Kothaiyar.28 Two streams,
one from Mathavan Pothai29 and the other from the Thacchamalai hills join
together and called Thambraparani.
After a course of 32 kilometers at
Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks, river Kothaiyar joins with Paraliyar at
Movattumuham30 to form Western Thambraparani.31
River Thambraparani
takes a south western direction and joins the sea at Thengapattanam.32
27
Velupillai, T.K., op.cit., p. 414.
28
Sivaraman Nair, V., Census of India, Trivandrum, 1952, p. 31
29
Matavan Pothai means a lame man’s potha. It is called so because a lame man occupied
this place for long time.
30
Movattumuham – means confluence of the three small rivers, Paraliyar, Kothaiyar and
Thambraparani.
31
The original Thambraparani flows at Thirunelveli district which begins at Agasthya
mountain. The river that flows through Kuzhithurai is called Western Thamraparny
32
Thengapattanam was a flourishing commercial centre under the Dutch. Pooner, Rise of
Dutch Power, Trichinopol, 1956.
48
Thiruvattar,33 Kuzhithurai and Munchirai34 are important places on its banks.
On its confluence at a sea, a large lagoon is formed which attracts many
tourists. Thambraparani is a rainfed river. During the Southwest and Northeast
monsoons, it overflows and causes much damage to the lives and properties of
those who live on the banks of the river especially at certain portions of
Vilavancode taluk.35
The above said are perennial canals and they are used to supply water to
the fields. A barrage of dam is constructed across the river resulting in the
storage of water. The canal is taken from this reservoir at a gentle angle than
the river. Most of flood canals are being converted into perennial canals.36
The Mullaiyar
The Mullaiyar in Vilavancode taluk is a stream. It flows a course of
about 11 kms through Kalial, Edaicode and Pacode.
It joins the Western
Thambraparani at Thikurichy near Marthandam.37
33
Thiruvattar – Thiru – means wealth, Vattar – means round. Thiruvattar is noted for
Adikeshavaperumal Temple.
34
Munchirai: According to myth, Ravana took Sita through this place and kept her in
confinement at this place for a while. Hence it is called so. The other important thing is that
this place was noted of a Vedic college which housed 90 scholars.
35
Bishop Caldwell, R., A History of Tinnevelly, New Delhi, 1982, p. 5.
36
Palanivelu, M., Social Science, New Delhi, 1997, p. 302.
37
Gopalakrishnan, M., op.cit., p. 7.
49
Valliyar
River Valliyar is comparatively a small river. It is 16 kms. long. It rises
in the Velimalai hills of Kalkulam taluk.
On its course, thuvalar, which
originates from other parts of Velimalai joins Velliyar at Thuckalay. On its
course it feeds a tank called Periakulam.
It passes through Kothanallur,
Kalkulam, Eraniel, Thalakulam, Manavalakurichy and at its confluence at
Kadiapattanam38 with sea a small lagoon is formed. On its both sides, paddy
fields, coconut groves are found and enrich the rural economy of the area it
passes. Valliyar comes under the category of irrigation canal. It is one of the
old types of canals which carry the surplus water of river during rainy season
and flood times only. It irrigates only a small area.39
The A.V.M. Canal
The canal between Chennankara and Trivandrum was the first of its kind
in the erstwhile Travancore state. It was constructed during the period of
Dewan
Venkitarao
(1821-1839).
However,
the
Anatnthan
Victoria
Marthandavarma Canal, popularly known as the A.V.M. Canal, was the only
38
Kadiapattanam. The original name of the place is called Kai – Kdiha pattanam. In Tamil it
means a place, that took a finger of the king as sacrifice. It was the custom among the
Travancore kings before reaching Suchindrum Arattu festival to go to Kadiapattanam for a
holy dip. Once it so happened that after the holy dip, when the king returned the sea also
moved with great waves. After seeing that the king cut of his little finger and offered blood
sacrifice. Hence the name kadiapattanam. Thambimarkathai Palm Leaf Manuscript.
39
Palanivelu, op.cit., p. 302.
50
work of its kind in the whole of South Travancore. Of the title, A.V.M., ‘A’
stands for the Travancore deity Ananthapadmanabha Swamy, ‘V’ stands for the
British Queen Victoria whose representative was there in Travancore and ‘M’
stands for the maker of modern Travancore king Marthandavarma.
The
construction of A.V.M. Canal was completed in July 1860 during the reign of
Uthiram Thirunal Marthandavarma (1846-1860). By 1860 the canal between
Poovar and Colachel was completed. The actual length of the completed canal
was 17½ miles including 1½ miles of natural lakes or reservoirs. However, the
A.V.M. Canal work has to be suspended due to the commencement of the
Varkala Canal work at Travancore.
In 1860, Ramavarma succeeded Utram Thirunal Marthandavarma and
revived the work in 1863. By February 1864, a further length of 10 miles
between Poovar and Thengapattinam was completed.
The coastal villages numbering more than 20 on the canal side like
Pozhiyoor,
Kollemcode,
Neerodi,
Marthandamthurai,
Vallavilai,
Eraviputhenthurai, Thengapattinam and Colachel depended on the transport for
most of their needs including navigation. This canal offered easy transport
facilities to men and materials and enabled Mondaicadu to emerge as a more
prominent religious centre. Until 1950, the pilgrims from Kerala used the
51
A.V.M. canal as their route to reach Mondaikadu for the Bhagavathiamman
festival.40
The A.V.M. Canal began at North Paravoor in Ernakulam District of
Kerala and passed Poovar in Kerala and Pozhiyoor, Kollencode, Neerodi,
Marthandamthurai, Vallavilai, Erayummanthurai, Chinnathurai, Thoothoor,
Enayam, Thengapattanam at Vilavancode Taluk, Colachel and Mondaikad,
where Devi Mondaikattamma temple is situated at Kalkulam taluk.41
Another usefulness of the A.V.M. Canal is that it prevents salinisation of
drinking water sources from Colachel to Kollemcode. Further its usefulness
from agriculture and coconut cultivation is of very great. It serves as a source
of development of the rural economy.
The present condition of the A.V.M. canal is a shock and shame to the
administration and the inhabitants of the district.
The canal is completely
polluted and occupied by weeds.
Streams
Apart from these rivers, there are small streams which originate from the
mountains. One such stream was Ulakkaiaruvi near Azhakiapandiapuram. It
helps the agriculturists for cultivation. The Ulakkaiaruvi stream runs through
40
41
Variethiah, K., Neithal Chavudukal, 1994, p. 92.
Dinamalar, 12.12.2006, p. 14.
52
the nearby villages. This river is yet to be fully harnessed and utilized for the
drinking purposes.
There are other small streams which join at Kalikesam and form
Kalikesam river. At Keeriparai a torrent is formed into a bigger stream. But is
filled with water during rainy season and dry during other seasons. There are
numerous small streams running from the mountains but they join in the jungles
with some streams and helps cultivation in the forests and hills. There are other
streams that flow in the hill side.
The Alankal joins with Valliyaru at
Thalakulam.
Thus rivers are the backbones of irrigation in Kanyakumari district.
Apart from these rivers there are many tanks that help the agriculturists in
Kanyakumari district.
Man-made Tanks
Apart from rivers, tanks are a source of irrigation. There are different
kinds of tanks. They are manmade and natural. The man made tanks are those
tanks which are made out of necessity either by the villagers or by the village
Panchayat or by Panchayat Unions. While they were digging the tanks always
they took into consideration the storing capacity of the tanks. Kapilar one of
the Sangam poets gives an account of the construction of tanks. According to
him tank should be shorter in length, should be capable of more storing capacity
53
and should be of crescent shaped of the eighth day after its appearance.42
Kariasan, in his Sirupanchamulam gives five points for the construction of a
good pond. According to him:
1. To dig the pond
2. To make embankment
3. To make sluices to flow in and sluices to let out excess water.
4. To make fields
5. To make a common well.43
He also stated that when embankment was made to prevent water
leakage, first a strong mud wall should be made and surrounding that sand walls
should be made.44
The ancient Tamils also found a good system of distribution
management of water. They had calculated the irrigation time taken for an
Ayakat of a pond. A pond should have three sluices. The first sluice should
irrigate the Ayacut in 15 Naligai.45
The second sluice should irrigate the
Ayakat in 10 Naligai and the third should irrigate in 5 Naligai. If all the three
42
Gomathinayagam, Water Management of the Ancient Tamils, Joint Action for sustainable
Livelihood, p. 23.
43
Ibid., p. 24.
44
Ibid.
45
Naligai. This is the ancient system of measuring a day, a day consists of 60 Naligai. So one
naligai = 24 minutes.
54
sluices are opened it will irrigate the whole ayacut in 2 naligai.46 Thus during
the early period, tanks were created with a clear idea to meet the needs of the
people.
There are more than 5000 tanks and ponds of different categories. Tanks
are divided into natural tanks, river fed tanks and rainfed tanks. The natural
tanks are commonly found throughout the district. At Agastheeswaram taluk of
Kanyakumari District there are three major tanks. They are the Prakkaikulam,
Putheri Kulam and Therur Kulam.47 In Thovalai taluk also there are two tanks,
and the Erachakulam, the Kadukkarai kulam. These tanks or kulams are equal
to a small dam. Coming to kalkulam taluk, Aloor kulam, Peria Kulam, Kalpadi
kulam, Nalli kulam and many other ponds are found. In Vilavancode taluk too,
there are bigger tanks and smaller ponds. These ponds irrigate thousands of
acres of paddy fields and make the area surrounded by them fertile and rich.
These ponds keep the drinking water through the underwater springs. Thus the
natural tanks irrigate the paddy fields and keep the drinking water stable.48
Mostly they are rain-fed. These ponds augment rural economy of the area in
which they are located. Totally there are more than two thousand tanks in the
district.
46
Gomathinayagam, op.cit., p. 25.
47
Kulam means tank.
48
P.W.D. Report on Irrigation, 1963, p. 19.
55
River fed Tanks
The river fed tanks are filled by rivers on their course. Beyond these, the
copper plates of the Pandya kings which belonged to the 9th century mentions
about Pasunkulam, Vanchi kulam, Nedumarthu kulam Perunkulam, Elanchi
kulam and Kondan kulam. Some of these tanks were made by the Pandya king
Veeranarayana.49 The Therekal canal carried water from river Pazhayar to the
Thathiarkulam, Puthukiramam kulam and Theroor kulam.50 Theroor Kulam is
one of the biggest ponds that is useful for paddy cultivation in hundred acres of
paddy fields.
The Pandya King Maran Chadayan, was an important contributor to
irrigation in Kanyakumari district.
King Marthandavarma Maharaja, 1729-
1758 also made about 16 large tanks. They were Thanumalaya Puthen kulam,
Puthanar kulam, Kendan kulam, Thanumalaya kulam, Vaila kulam, Pirakulam,
Vaigai kulam, Varayananeri kulam, Kannimar kulam, Mantharam kulam and
Achan kulam.51 These riverfed ponds contribute to the agricultural operations
of the particular areas in which it is situated. Beyond this, there are number of
river fed tanks spread throughout the length and breadth of the district. These
49
Veeranarayana Mangalam at Thovalai taluk is named after this king. He was instrumental
in making the Therekal canal which takes water from Pazhayar for agricultural purpose.
50
Mrs. Gnana Lal Mohan, op.cit., pp. 8-9.
51
Ibid., p. 10
56
tanks are sometimes fed by the distributor canals from the main canal made by
the government. In places, where the P.W.D. has not done those works of
distributory canals, the farmers of each area contribute either manual labour or
money to do the work.52
The following example will clearly show that the Mampazhathuraiyar
river feeding canal fills the following ponds directly or indirectly in their
course.
Name of the pond
52
Area of irrigation
1.
Nagaithiruthakulam
6.91 Acres
2.
Kavadikulam
6.73 Acres
3.
Maruthankulam
7.56 Acres
4.
Chenkal Kulam
5.02 Acres
5.
Puthuthiruthakulam
1.46 Acres
6.
Porkodimar Kulathu Kulam
3.61 Acres
7.
Sasthan Kulam
2.14 Acres
8.
Kannan Parai kulam
17.72 Acres
9.
Melachira Kulam
4.8 Acres
10. Kariya Mangalathu kulam
19.48 Acres
11. Some Seri Kulam
90.70 Acres
12. Kalkulam
7.04 Acres
P.W.D. Report on Irrigation 1963, p. 20.
57
13. Paraiyadi Kulam
18.60 Acres
14. Erattaikulam
7.04 Acres
15. Veppankuzhi kulam
2.10 Acres
16. Chengaladi Kulam
2.55 Acres
17. Puthen Kulam
12.85 Acres
18. Thiruppal Kulam
9.03 Acres
19. Pillukulam
10.44 Acres
20. Thiruvattuzhi kulam
5.07 Acres
21. Kundukulam
0.91 Acres
22. Ullankuzhi kulam
12.5 Acres.53
The Rainfed Tanks and Ponds
The rainfed ponds always depend on the monsoon.
The rainfall is
regular and steady because Kanyakumari district is situated on the western
coast. The mean annual rainfall in Agasteeswaram taluk is 36.4” and 48.7” in
Thovalai taluk.54 The south-west monsoon (May-August) yields 12.6”. The
north-east monsoon, September-November supplies 18.8”.55 The month of
October records the highest monthly rainfall of 7.8”.56 During these seasons
53
Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Nagercoil, pp. 9-19.
54
Nagam Aiya, V., Travancore State Manual, Trivandrum, 1996, (Revised edition), Vol. I, p.
68.
55
Ibid., p. 68.
56
Ibid.
58
water accumulates in the ponds found in certain areas of Agastheeswaram,
Thovalai, Kalkulam and Killiyoor of Vilavancode taluk.
The water saved
during the rainy season is used for cultivation of Manavari crop in some places
at Kalkulam, Thovalai and Agastheeswaram taluks. Some of the tanks are
owned by private individuals and maintained by them. Yet there are ponds
which are owned and maintained by the villagers. These rainfed ponds are
called community ponds or tanks.57 They are substitutes to the other ponds
wherever they are absent. The economic value of these ponds is very high in
areas where cultivation could not be made. They help the development of rural
economy.
Now-a-days the rain water conservation technology, is gaining
popularity. This type of water conservation consists of the dugout ponds, small
earthen embankment.
The diagonal ponds are excavated ponds otherwise
called farm ponds. They can be designed to fit into an individual farm or
number of farms or community ponds. The site selected for the pond should be
capable of storing the run of water that goes waste. Such ponds should be
located in places favourable for outlet condition.58 There are plenty of ponds or
57
58
Mrs. Grace Lal Mohan, op.cit., pp. 10-11.
Sam, M.J., Methods of Rainwater Conservation and their importance of conserving the
Rain water, The Ecology of Wetlands in Kanyakumari District, Proceedings of the Seminar,
1999, pp. 82-85.
59
tanks of this type found in Kanyakumari district.59 They form a good substitute
to the other irrigation systems.
Percolation Tanks
There are small earthern dams found here and there used for common
use. These ponds are either square or rectangular or round in shape.60 The
major defect of these ponds is to be desilted very often. The next type of the
percolation tank or ponds are constructed across natural streams.61 These ponds
are used for augmenting the ground water discharge. Another type of water
conservation is called sub-surface water harvesting.62 The western ghats is
noted for the sub-surface water conservation.63 The rainwater harvesting is
useful in many ways either for irrigation augmentation or for drinking and can
reduce the demand for water supply. Except the natural ponds and river fed
tanks others are manmade to satisfy a community or a group of men or a
village. These ponds were used for the use of the villagers. Paddy fields,
coconut groves, plantain garden and vegetable gardens enrich the rural
economy of the village.64
59
Sam, M.J., op.cit., p. 83.
60
Ibid., p. 84.
61
Ibid.
62
Ibid., p. 85.
63
Ibid., p. 86.
64
Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation, P.W.D. Report, dated 23 July 1987.
60
Natural Ponds
There are many natural ponds, such as Parakkai kulam, Putheri kulam,
Thathaiar kulam, Kaniya kulam, Veerani kulam in Agastheeswaram taluk.65
Peria kulam, Nalli kulam, Eraniel kulam, Vellimalai kulam, Thalakkulam,
Kurunthenkottu kulam, Attoor kulam and many in kalkulam taluk, so also in
Thovalai taluk there are many ponds. In the case of Vilavancode taluk, the
natural ponds are limited. Whereas in Thovalai taluk, Erachakulam is the only
big pond that fills during rainy season and supply water for agriculture.66 Apart
from these there are large number of small ponds, that satisfy the local needs of
the place in which they are situated. Normally the rainfed and natural tanks
store water sometimes from the springs.
Others store water during rainy
seasons.67 Besides these there are river fed ponds. These ponds are large in
number. If we go through the flow chart of the rivers it will be very clear that
how many tanks are filled by a single river especially Chittar Pattanankal and
Pazhayar irrigation schemes.
65
Gopala Krishnan, M., op.cit., pp. 308-335.
66
Chief Engineer, Minor Irrigation, Report, 23 July 1987.
67
Gopala Krishnan, M., op.cit., p. 312.
61
The following table clearly gives details about the number of tanks in the
district.
Sl.No. Name of Taluks
Rain-fed or
Manmade
River-fed or
systems tank
922
49
8
180
1
Vilavancode
2
Agastheeswaram
3
Kalkulam
464
614
4
Thovalai
92
118
1558
961
Total
Thus, it is clear from the above chart that the irrigation system that was
developed during the early period in Kanyakumari district is still continuing
and helping the people.
Lakes
Besides these, the Manakudy kayal, the Thengapattanam lake, and the
Mukkudal lake are some of the important lakes that cater to the needs of the
people.68 The Mukkudal Dam is used for the drinking water to the people of
Nagercoil.
The water is brought from Mukkudal to filter the house in
Nagercoil.69
68
Gopala Krishnan, N., op.cit., p. 7.
69
Velupillai, T.K., op.cit., p. 174.
62
At the same time, the people of Boothapandy and Thittuvilai made
representations and petitions to the Government.
As a result of it, the
Government directed the Chief Engineer to prepare a report.70 It was proposed
that water from Mukkudal reservoir could be brought to Nagercoil town. The
village panchayats also agreed to meet the annual charges for the working of
the scheme. As the Government was fully satisfied, it called for a detailed plan
and detailed estimate for the scheme.71 The scheme was submitted and used for
drinking water. Thus, the earlier irrigation systems were well planned aiming at
the welfare and benefit of the people.
70
G.O. ROC No. 4358/36 P.W.D., dated 13.5.1937.
71
Velupillai, T.K., op.cit., p. 175.