Local farmers retrieve 7 lost streams

MADURAI: Sivaganga collector S Malarvizhi has decided to form a committee consisting of local farmers to identify and retrieve the seven streams, which were once the lifeline of the district.
She will meet with a group of farmers on Wednesday to chalk out an action plan, co-ordinator of the Sivaganga District Land and Water Bodies Retrieval Movement S Krishnan told TOI. The organisation had submitted a petition to the collector about the streams, which were lost due to the rampant growth of Prosopis juliflora in the riverbeds.The predominantly rain fed district was once known as the 'tank district' due to the presence of over 4,000 tanks, Krishnan said.
"Numerous streams, which carried water from those tanks, made the land fertile. Notable among the streams were Upparu, also known as Silambaru, which originated in the big tank in Thiruvathavur in Madurai and reached the Vaigai river after flowing through a major part of Sivaganga," he said.