High Court directs State to file status report on desilting Vaigai dam

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to file a status report on desilting Vaigai dam.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by K.K. Ramesh of Madurai, who sought a direction to the authorities to desilt Vaigai dam for improving its storage capacity since it was the main source of water for Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts.

The petitioner complained that the dam was not properly maintained. Mud and sludge were not removed from the bed of the dam and its storage capacity had reduced. Farmers had urged the government to desilt the dam so that water would be conserved and utilised effectively for both drinking and irrigation purposes, he said.

He said a detailed project report, along with corresponding cost estimates amounting to ₹183 crore, was submitted for approval. However, the desilting project was merely in the conceptual stage.

The petitioner sought a direction to the State to allot the funds without delay to desilt the dam on a war footing for the benefit of the people of the five districts.

If necessary measures were not taken, the agricultural lands in the five districts which were dependent on River Vaigai would turn barren and the people would be affected, he added.

Published - June 03, 2026 08:24 pm IST