Syllabus: Prelims Unit II - Geography of India
Water and wetlands of Tamil Nadu for revision: the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery project, irrigation challenges, the 2024 water resources picture, the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission and the bird sanctuaries.
On this page: 5 Years of Jal Jeevan Mission, Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery Project Overview, Tamil Nadu's Irrigation Challenges, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Analysis (2024), Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu
5 Years of Jal Jeevan Mission
Mission
- Launch date: August 15, 2019
- Goal: Tap water supply to all rural households by 2024
- Implementation: Union Government initiative
Statistical Progress
- Initial Status (2019):
- 3.23 crore households (17%) had connections
- Total rural households: 19.32 crore
- Current Status (August 2024):
- Additional connections: 11.85 crore
- Total coverage: 15.07 crore households
- Coverage percentage: 78.11%
Achievement Status
- States with 100% Coverage:
- Goa
- Telangana
- Haryana
- UTs with 100% Coverage:
- Puducherry
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Dadra & Nagar Haveli
- Daman & Diu
Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery Project Overview
Key Details of the Project
- Funding Structure:
- The National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) has allocated ₹934.3 crore for the first phase.
- Funding is shared 60:40 between the Union and Tamil Nadu governments:
- Union Government: ₹560.58 crore
- State Government: ₹373.72 crore
- Phase One Coverage:
- Focuses on the stretch from Mettur Dam downstream to Tiruchi.
- Future Phases:
- Phase two will address the section from Tiruchi to Poompuhar, where the river meets the sea.
Objectives
- Pollution Mitigation:
- Implement measures to control sewage and industrial effluent inflows.
- Includes establishing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).
- Conservation Approach:
- Modeled on the Namami Gange Programme, with an emphasis on pollution abatement and ecological restoration.
Expected Outcomes
- Enhanced water quality and restored ecological health in the Cauvery River.
- Improved infrastructure for waste management, supporting sustainable development for communities along the river.
Tamil Nadu's Irrigation Challenges
Historical Context and Current Status
- Tamil Nadu's gross irrigated area from 1960-2022:
- Peak irrigation coverage: 3.54 lakh hectares.
- Current decline: 3.21 lakh hectares.
- Limited growth in the irrigated area despite five-year plans.
- State heavily relies on tanks and canals for irrigation.
Source-wise Irrigation Trends (1960-61 to 2021-22)
- Canal Irrigation:
- Declining trend from 5.82 lakh hectares to 4.10 lakh hectares.
- Limited expansion opportunities compared to other states.
- Northern districts primarily dependent on canals for irrigation.
- Tank Irrigation:
- Significant reduction in tank-irrigated area.
- Poor maintenance of existing tanks.
- Lack of periodic desilting affects storage capacity.
- Groundwater Usage:
- Increased from 15.38% to 26.61%.
- Over-exploitation leading to depletion.
- Central Groundwater Board reports a critical situation.
Major Challenges
- Infrastructure Issues:
- 41,127 tanks' capacity underutilized.
- Inadequate maintenance of existing structures.
- Need for modernization of irrigation systems.
- Water Resource Management:
- Declining water table in command areas.
- Limited recharge of groundwater.
- Poor water use efficiency in major irrigation schemes.
- Policy and Implementation:
- Need for comprehensive sedimentation management.
- Lack of adoption of water-saving methods.
- Insufficient focus on tank renovation.
Tamil Nadu Water Resources Analysis (2024)
Key Statistics of Irrigation Tanks
- Total irrigation tanks in Tamil Nadu: 14,139
- Full capacity tanks: 1,222 (8% of total)
- Leading districts with full tanks:
- Kanniyakumari: 310 tanks
- Madurai: 302 tanks
Regional Distribution Analysis
Southern Region
Kanniyakumari District
- Total tanks: 2,040 (largest in state)
- 75% tanks at 50-100% capacity
- Rainfall received: 50 cm (SW monsoon)
- October rainfall: 11 cm (Normal: 16 cm)
Madurai District
- Significant tank capacity achievement
- SW monsoon rainfall: 31 cm (Expected: 30 cm)
- October rainfall: 22 cm (Normal: 11 cm)
Sivaganga District
- Total tanks: 1,459
- 40% tanks at good capacity
Other Regions Status
- Northern Region
- Tanks below 50% capacity: 2,878/3,837
- Central Region
- Tanks below 50% capacity: 1,260/2,171
- Western Region
- Tanks below 50% capacity: 290/435
Monsoon Patterns
- Northeast monsoon onset: October 15, 2024
- Earlier than usual (traditional date: October 20)
Dam and Reservoir Status
- Total capacity: 224 TMC
- Current storage: 142 TMC (63%)
Cauvery System Storage
- Major reservoirs: Mettur, Bhavanisagar, Amaravati
- Combined storage: 86 TMC
Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission
Mission
- Ramsar Designation Pursuit: Tamil Nadu aims to achieve Ramsar site designation for its wetlands.
- Target: Two bird sanctuaries in the Ramanathapuram district.
- Location: Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu.
- Focus: Enhancing conservation efforts for the bird sanctuaries and surrounding wetland areas.
- Status: The process is ongoing.
Ramanathapuram Bird Sanctuaries
Therthangal
Sakkarakottai
Melaselvanoor Keelaselvanoor
- Kanjirankulam: Recognized as a Ramsar site since 2022.
- Chitrangudi: Recognized as a Ramsar site since 2021.
Ramsar Convention Details
- Type: International treaty aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
- Purpose: To protect wetlands globally, ensuring their sustainability.
- Focus Areas:
- Sustainable Wetland Use: Promoting responsible usage of wetland resources.
- Conservation Practices: Encouraging conservation methods to protect wetland ecosystems.
- International Recognition: Gaining global acknowledgment for wetland areas that are of significant environmental value.
- Environmental Protection: Ensuring the health of wetland ecosystems for future generations.
Tamil Nadu's Achievement
- Total Ramsar Sites: 18 Ramsar sites in Tamil Nadu.
- National Ranking: Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in India.
- Recent Additions:
- Chitrangudi: Added to the Ramsar list in 2021.
- Kanjirankulam: Added to the Ramsar list in 2022.
Bird Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu
Ramanathapuram Bird Sanctuaries
- Total number: 5 sanctuaries
- Names of sanctuaries:
- Therthangal
- Sakkara Kottai
- Melaselvanoor-Keelaselvanoor
- Kanjirankulam
- Chitrangudi
Ramsar Status Sites
- Chitrangudi: Received status in 2021
- Kanjirankulam: Received status in 2022
- Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary: First Ramsar site (2002)
Tamil Nadu Wetland Statistics
- Total Ramsar sites: 18 (Highest in India)
- Wetland coverage: 6.92% of total geographical area
- National average comparison: Above national average of 4.86%
