UNDP funds project in Mannar to prevent salt water incursion

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 03:35 GMT]
The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), an NGO working in NorthEast, is implementing a project funded by UNDP costing Rs.1,530,900 to build earth dams to prevent salt water incursion in two villages in Mannar district under the Assistant Government Agent of Manthai west, sources in Mannar said.

More than 500 families live in Manthai west villages of Kalliyady and Kaththalampiddy. Kalliyady residents are mainly farmers, and majority of residents of Kaththalampiddy are members of fisher families.

A large water storage area between the villages functions as an estuary allowing rain water from the villages to reach the sea during rainy season.

However, during hightide seasons salt-water penetrates the land endangering arable areas with creeping salinity.

The earth-bund will stop incursion of salt water inland and also will preserve rain water for irrigation during the dry months, according to TECH staff.