Category: Underground Sewage System
To the west of Rajapalayam lie Pulliyankulam Kanmai and Kondaneri Kanmai, traditional irrigation tanks. They serve as key water sources for agriculture and also help sustain groundwater levels in nearby residential areas.
These tanks are part of a traditional cascading water management system. Water flowing from the Mudangiyar River, which originates near Ayyanar Kovil, feeds the tanks. What makes the system remarkable is the way the water bodies are interconnected. When one tank fills, excess water flows into the next.
The link between Pulliyankulam and Kondaneri kanmais is Manikaathan Odai. In Tamil, odai means stream. This channel was once a ‘nanneer’ odai – a stream of clean water. Local residents recall bathing in it, and collecting its water for drinking. Over time, however, urban expansion has changed the character of the odai. Open drains from nearby areas now discharge into the stream, turning what was once a clear water channel into a polluted one.
The underground sewage system currently being implemented in Rajapalayam could help reverse this trend. By preventing wastewater from entering natural streams and odais, the project can help restore the health of these traditional water channels. Protecting the kanmai network is not just about preserving water bodies – it is about sustaining an age-old system that supports agriculture, groundwater, and community life.
