Category: Water Body Restoration

Shown in the map are Pudhukulam Kanmai and the routes through which runoff water travels from the hills to the tank system. 

For the people of Rajapalayam, the filling of this Kanmai, situated on the left side of the Mudangiyar Road, is more than a seasonal sight, it is a reassuring sign of abundance. The reason being it is among the first water bodies to receive runoff descending from the Western Ghats during the rains. On the west side of the city, Athiyur Kanmai plays a similar role, becoming the first receiving tank in that direction. Together, these traditional water bodies supply over 40 downstream water bodies in the region.

When Pudhukulam Kanmai brims with water, it sends a message that every resident understands: there will be no immediate scarcity of water. The tank’s fullness signals that nature has been generous, that the channels from the hills have carried enough runoff, and that the months ahead may be kinder.

For farmers, the sight brings even deeper relief. A full kanmai means more than stored surface water – it means groundwater recharge. As the tank holds water, it slowly percolates into the earth, raising the water table and replenishing wells across nearby farmlands. Wells that sustain crops through drier months depend on this quiet process beneath the surface.

These kanmais are not merely ponds or tanks. They are indicators, reservoirs, recharge systems, and symbols of ecological wisdom inherited through generations.