Take steps to desilt Alamangalam lake in Pudukottai district: HC

Madurai: Madras high court has directed the authorities to take steps to desilt the Alamangalam lake in Pudukottai district after the water level recedes.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by A Francis and V Anthonisamy of Alamangalam village. The petitioners stated that the Alamangalam lake extends up to nearly 99 acres. Most of the people residing in the village are farmers, and are dependent on the lake for agricultural activities.They stated that for the past 50 years, the lake has been in a state of neglect as it is not maintained properly by the authorities. The damaged sluice gates prevent efficient water management, leading to wastage of precious water resources. The accumulated silt has drastically reduced the lake's storage capacity. These problems have severely hampered the irrigation potential of the lake, directly impacting the agricultural productivity and economic viability of the farmers.The petitioners stated that inaction on the part of the authorities in maintaining the lake has directly infringed upon the fundamental right to livelihood of the villagers, who depend solely on agriculture for their survival. Hence, the petitioners moved court seeking a direction to the authorities to desilt and repair the damaged sluice gates of the lake.During the course of the hearing, the govt pleader submitted that the authorities were unable to desilt the lake due to the availability of water in the lake. Steps would be taken to desilt the lake once the water level recedes.Taking into account the submissions, a division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman disposed of the petition.