Voters await reconstruction of Shenbhagavalli check-dam to boost irrigation

Voters of Vasudevanallur (Reserve) constituency, who have been promised better infrastructure and improved drinking water supply, are once again assured of reconstructing the damaged Shenbagavalli check-dam in the Western Ghats as this structure, if rebuilt, will transform altogether the agricultural operations in this region.

All these promises are being made during every election, which saw the election of MLAs and MPs from all political parties including the CPI (M). After the DMK won the seat in 1967 and 1971, R. Krishnan, a down-to-earth unassuming advocate of the CPI (M), represented this segment twice in 1977 and 1980. R. Eswaran of the Congress was elected five times in a row — from 1984 to 2001 — and the AIADMK bagged this constituency for the first time in 2011 when S. Duraiyappa, a doctor, won.

Former AIADMK MLA of Vasudevanallur A. Manoharan, who is the elder brother of BJP candidate for this constituency Ananthan Ayyasamy for the April 23 polls, got elected from Vasudevanallur in 2016. He was denied ticket in the AIADMK as he backed O. Panneerselvam. Hence, he joined the TVK recently. But the TVK sidelined Mr. Manoharan and fielded R. Aumdha Rani.

As the DMK has fielded Sankarankovil’s MLA E. Raja in Vasudevanallur this time, Vasudevanallur MLA T. Sadan Thirumalaikumar of the MDMK has become a spectator as the Vaiko-led party has been allotted Kadayanallur seat.

The Naam Thamizhar Katchi has fielded Isai Mathivanan, who polled 16,731 votes without any alliance in the 2021 election.

As usual, the candidates give a range of poll promises, mostly revolving around agriculture and water for irrigation. Promise on reconstruction of the badly damaged ‘Shenbhagavalli’ check-dam in the Western Ghats west of Vasudevanallur and located within Kerala boundary The one promise that would be surface during every election is heard in this constituency again. Almost all the candidates in the fray are giving this promise to the voters as the rebuilt Shenbhagavalli check-dam will revive farming.

The check-dam was built in the year 1733 at the junction of jungle streams Puliyampatti and Chokkanpatti in the Western Ghats to divert water to Rasingaperi and Kulasekaraperi tanks in Sivagiri taluk to irrigate over 12,000 acres of land.

After the State government repaired it between 1959 and 1962, the major breach caused by heavy downpour rendered it useless in 1967. When then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran sent ₹5.15 lakh to the Government of Kerala to reconstruct the damaged portions, the money was returned back in 2006 as the neighbouring State was not interested in repairing the structure.

So, the political parties that give the promise of Shenbhagavalli check-dam repairing during every election and comfortably put it in the cold storage once the polling is over have given rebirth to this promise for this election too.

Like neighbouring Kadayanallur Assembly segment, Vasudevanallur farmers face constant threat of wild animals invading into their paddy, coconut and sugarcane farms located close to the Western Ghats.

Since this region is known for lemon cultivation with Puliyangudi Lemon Market playing vital role in augmenting the revenue of the lemon growers, the farmers look up to the government to introduce value-addition of lemon.

Farmers who had supplied sugarcane to the sugar factory in Vasudevanallur have been waiting for three years now for the money as this factory remains closed.

“The growers, facing sustained threats from the wild animals, have supplied sugarcane to the factory and are waiting for the money for the sugarcane procured from us. The government should take immediate steps to settle this whopping outstanding bill,” says sugarcane grower M. Balasubramanian of Vasudevanallur.