Lok Sabha Question No. 2462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Salt Water Intrusion
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: S. Ramalingam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2462

## ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## SALT WATER INTRUSION

## 2462. SHRI RAMALINGAM S.

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by the Government to prevent the salt Water intrusions in the Coastal district of the Tamil Nadu and tail end of the Cauvery river system especially in the places of Sirkali, Nagapattinam, Alakuddy, Mayiladuthurai, Pazhaya Agraharam, Kaveripoompattinam; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  given  any  financial  assistance  to  the  tail  end  regulator  project  (bed Dams) in Cauvery basin for reversing soil salinity caused by ingress of sea water at times of high tide and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (c) whether the Government has sanctioned the proposal of Cauvery River Basin Modernization Scheme as proposed by the State of Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the financial assistance sanctioned and disbursed under the scheme to Tamil Nadu during the last five years?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a) A  number  of  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Central  Government  and  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  to prevent saltwater intrusion in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu including Cavery river system. Some of the steps in this regard are given as under.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) generates ground water quality data of the country including Tamil  Nadu  on  a  regional  scale  as  part  of  its  ground  water  quality  monitoring  program  and  various scientific  studies.  These  studies  indicate  the  occurrence  of  Salinity  (EC:  Electrical  Conductivity  more than 3000 micro mhos/ cm) in isolated pockets and in parts of coastal areas in Tamil Nadu. The water quality data is shared with States for suitable interventions.

Further, CGWB has constructed 60 piezometers of different depths and installed Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) all along the coast of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry starting from Tiruvallur District in the  North  to  Tirunelveli  District  in  the  South  for  real  time  monitoring  of  Ground  water  levels,  Water Quality (Salinity) and Temperature.

Out  of  the  60  locations,  08  DWLRs  (Mayiladuthurai  -  01;  Nagapattinam  -  01;  Thanjavur  -04; Pudukottai - 01; Tiruvavur - 01) have been installed in the Cauvery delta. The Groundwater Salinity,

Temperature and groundwater level data are being monitored and transmitted every six hours to the State and National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC).

A draft guideline for Preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Salinity Ingress Management Projects in Coastal Areas has been prepared by Central Water Commission (CWC) to facilitate planning and execution of any salinity ingress management projects.

In addition, as per the information received from the State Government of Tamil Nadu, the Water Resources Department of Tamil Nadu (including CSIR-NGRI) and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) (involving Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), and leading experts from the University of Aarhus) have entered into an MoU for study on the matter.

Further, some of the steps taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu to prevent saltwater intrusion is given at Annexure I.

(b) A  number  of  works  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  with  the  financial assistance  from  NABARD,  ADB  and  their  own  funds  to  create  Tail  end  regulators  in  Cauvery  basin system. Details of such projects are given at Annexure II .

(c) & (d) As  per  available  information  'Cauvery  River  Basin  Modernization  Scheme'  has  not  been proposed.

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## ANNEXURE I

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2462 TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2023  REGARDING  'SALT  WATER INTRUSION'

## Lower Cauvery Basin Circle, Thanjavur

1. Detailed project report and estimate for the work of construction of a Tailend Structures across Coleroon River to Prevent salt water intrusion between Cuddalore District, Chidambaram Taluk ,Thirukkazhipalai  Village  and  Mayiladuthurai  District,  Sirkazhi  Taluk,  Alakudi  Villages  to  a value of Rs.702.40 crores have been prepared.
2. The estimate for the work of construction of new tailend regulator across Vettar River at mile 92/0  in  Uthamacholapuram  Village  of  Nagapttinam  Taluk  and  District  to  a  value  of  Rs.46.70 crores has been prepared.
3. The work of construction of new tailend regulator across  Cauvery  River at  LS 152.300 km  in Dharmakulam Village of Sirkali Taluk in Nagapttinam (Now Mayiladuthurai) District to a value of Rs.7.87 crores under NABARD loan assistance has been taken up and completed

## Special Project Circle, Trichy

1. Construction  of  a  Barrage  with  head  sluices  across  the  river  coleroon  at  RD  74/3  miles  in Adhanur and Kumaramangalam Villages in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam District for an estimate amount of Rs.463.25 Crore.
2. This barrage is being constructed for a length  of 1064.40m with steel  shutters in 84  vents (12 vents of 3.55m height with +9.50m sill and 72 vents of 3.05m height with +10.00m sill) to store 0.334 TMC.

## ANNEXURE II

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2462 TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2023  REGARDING  'SALT  WATER INTRUSION'

## Lower Cauvery Basin Circle, Thanjavur

## The following works  were taken up under NABARD loan assistance:

1. Construction of  Tail  end  Regulator  across  Kittianai  Uppanar  at  LS  7.100  km  in  Pudupattinam village (nearby Thargas Anjaneyar Temple back side) of Sirkali Taluk of Nagapattinam District with a value of Rs.11.37 crores has been taken up and completed.
2. Construction of tail end regulator below the confluence of thirunagiri channel of thiruvali tank with Nattu kannimanniyar to arrest sea water intrusion in thennampattinam village at sirkali taluk in Nagapattinam district with a value of Rs.9.76 crores has been taken up and completed
3. Construction  of  Tail  End  Regulator  across  Manjalar  river  @  LS  146.500  km  in  Kalamanallur village of Tharangambadi Taluk in Nagapattinam District with a value of Rs.7.90 crores has been taken up and completed
4. The work of construction of new tail end regulator across Cauvery River at LS 152.300 km in Dharmakulam  Village  of  Sirkali  Taluk  in  Nagapttinam  (Now  Mayiladuthurai)  District  with  a value of Rs.7.87 crores has been   taken up and completed.
5. Construction of tail end regulator across Kaduvaiyar river at LS 156.130 km in Setticheri Village of Vedaranyam Taluk of Nagapattinam District to a value of Rs.16.2734 crore has been taken up and completed.
6. Construction of Tailend Regulator across VellapalamUppanar @ L.S.21.200 km in Thirunagiri Village Sirkali Taluk in Nagapattinam District with a value of Rs.30.96 crores has been taken up.
7. Construction  tailend  regulator  across  Devanathi  (Uppanar  drain)  in  Jaganathapuram  village  of Nagagpattinam and Thiruvarur District to a value of Rs.18.61 crore has been takenup.

## The following work was taken up under State Fund Scheme:

Construction of tailend regulator across SakkiliyanVoikkar at  LS11.50 km in Egarajapuram village of Vedaraniyam  Taluk  in  Nagagpattinam  District  to  a  value  of  Rs.4.8192  crore  has  been  taken  up  and completed.

## The following works were taken up under CAVSCDP with a loan assistance of ADB:

1. Construction of tail end regulator across Vellaiyar river at LS 153.65 km in Mahizhi Village of Keelvelur Taluk  of  Nagapattinam  District  to  a  value  of  Rs.4.50  crore  have  been  taken  up  and completed.
2. Construction  of  tail  end  regulator  across  Valavanar  river  at  LS  19.30  km  in  Thondiyakkadu Village of Thiruthuraipoondi Taluk in Thiruvarur District to a value of Rs.12.00 crore have been taken up and completed.
3. Construction of tail end regulator across Harichandranathi at LS 160.20 km in VettaikkaranIrruppu Village of Keelvelur Taluk of Nagapattinam District to a value of Rs.4.00 crore have been taken up and completed.
4. Construction of tail end regulator across Adappar river at LS 168.65 km in Kallimedu Village of  Vedaranyam  Taluk of Nagapattinam District to a value of Rs.20.00 crore have been taken up and completed.

## The following works are in progress under Cauvery ERM Project:

1. Construction of tail end regulator across Veeracholan river at LS 146.500 km in Poraiyar Village of Tharangampadi   Taluk of Nagapattinam District (Now Mayiladuthurai District) to a value of Rs.3.89 crore has been taken up.
2. Construction of tail end regulator across Mahimazhaiyar river in Perumalpettai Village of Sirkali Taluk  in  Nagapattinam  District  (Now  Mayiladuthurai  District)to  a  value  of  Rs.0.52  crore  has been taken up.
3. Construction of tail end regulator across  Uppan river at LS 3.55 km  in  Sathankudy Village of Tharangampadi  Taluk  of  Nagapattinam  District  (Now  Mayiladuthurai  District)  to  a  value  of Rs.9.73 crore has been taken up.
4. Construction  of  tail  end  regulator  across  Neythavasal  channel  at  LS  7.00  km  in  Neythavasal Village  of  Sirkali  Taluk  in  Nagapattinam  District  (Now  Mayiladuthurai  District)  to  a  value  of Rs.0.35 crore has been taken up.

***