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After assuming workplace in May 2018, Ms. Shilpa, throughout her year-long tenure within the district, initiated steps to rejuvenate water our bodies and the irrigation channels, together with the Kannadiyan Channel, an important cog within the Tamirabharani irrigation system, Hanumanadhi watercourse in Radhapuram taluk, Vaeinthankulam tank, unfold on 20 acres close to new bus-stand by way of ‘Nam Tamirabharani Iyakkam’.
Since the Vaeinthankulam tank across the new bus-stand offers refreshing look to this bus terminus, she took steps to examine utterly the uncontrolled circulation of liquid waste getting generated within the motels, eating places and the eateries into this water physique. After stopping the circulation of sewage, she, by way of the ‘Nam Tamirabharani Iyakkam’, mobilised funds from the donors for desilting Vaeinthankulam and created small sand dunes inside Vaeinthankulam to draw the water birds. As the desilted canals introduced copious water into the tank, Vaeinthankulam overflowed in November 2020 and she or he launched over 5,000 fingerlings within the water physique to create robust prey base for the water birds visiting Vaeinthankulam.
Her private monitoring additionally led to the removing of encroachments made alongside the Chittar watercourse within the northern components of the district. Despite stiff resistance from a couple of politicians and the general public representatives, Ms. Shilpa, who camped at Tenkasi in May 2019, ensured the unbiased removing of unlawful buildings made alongside the Chittar watercourse.
The water physique restoration tempo set by her obtained additional accelerated when V. Vishnu took the baton from her in November 2020 by way of his ‘Nellai Neervalam’ initiative for restoring 75 hitherto uncared for water our bodies below the management of native our bodies to mark India’s seventy fifth Independence Day in 2021. The complete train corresponding to desilting and strengthening of tank bunds had been taken-up with public contribution with out inflicting any expenditure to the federal government exchequer.
With the lively participation of the general public, particularly retired authorities workers, native VIPs, public representatives, faculty and school managements and the businessmen, who both funded the programme by way of a checking account managed by a small group of individuals for every mission or sponsored materials like earthmovers, the train gained momentum.
He, after roping in GIS knowledgeable Raj Bhagat with Water Resources Institute of India for making ready water contour for all 204 village panchayats within the district, organised a sequence of Tamirabharani and irrigation tanks conservation consciousness programmes like rallies, seminars and so forth., which had been largely attended by the scholars, volunteers and the NGOs engaged on water conservation.
When Dr. Karthikeyan too joined this ‘relay race’ after he assumed workplace in February 2023, he continually monitored the desilting of Kodaimelazhagiyaan, Nadhiyunni, Kannadiyan and Palayam Channels, all within the Tamirabharani irrigation system, to make sure the hassle-free circulation of water as much as the tail-end areas. His streamlining of desilting of each systemised and non-systemised irrigation tanks by actively involving the Revenue and Public Works Departments gave new life to 199 tanks within the district.
Under his management, a complete scientific plan on an outlay of ₹660 crore was ready to gather and deal with liquid waste flowing into the Tamirabharani to examine the river getting polluted because it quenches thirst of thousands and thousands of inhabitants dwelling in 4 southern districts. He additionally inaugurated a cleansing drive to take away rubbish, largely plastic and discarded garments from the Tamirabharani. This drive ensured the removing of some hundred tonnes of garments discarded by devotees within the Tamirabharani river at Papanasam and alongside the watercourse of the perennial river.
He additionally initiated steps to transform the garments faraway from the river into doormats and different allied merchandise to present livelihood to self-help teams.
Despite intense resistance from the non secular outfits, Dr. Karthikeyan was agency in regulating the group taking part within the Aadi Amaavaasai celebrations of Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple contained in the Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the keep contained in the sanctuary.
Now, all these collective efforts by the then three District Collectors have received the Centre’s recognition which shall be handed over on November 18.
Published – November 14, 2025 06:38 pm IST
