The Tamirabarani River originates from the famous Agasthiyarkoodam Peak in the Western Ghats, Ambasumadram Taluk. It flows through Tirunelveli and Tuticorin.
Etymology:
The Tamirabarani contains traces of copper, hence its name (Thamiram means copper in Tamil). The copper content gives it a distinct reddish shade. The river has also historically been known as Porunai. Some scholars interpret the name Tamiraparani as Tamiram (copper) and Varuni (stream or river). They ascribe this origin to the fact that the bed of the river is of red soil. When the water flows on the red soil, it gives a copper-like appearance.
Historical Reference:
The Ancient Greeks of the time of Ptolemy referred to the river as Solen. Spelled differently as Tampraparani, Tamraparni, Tamiravaruni, etc., the river is mentioned as the Porunai nathi in Tamil poetic literature. It receives recognition and is referred to as the renowned one in Sanskrit literature references, which are as old as those of the Puranas and Epics.
Almost all the villages and towns along the course of this river are historical settlements. One well-known example is Aadhichanallur, which is a preserved site of the State Archaeology Department from where prehistoric artifacts are excavated. The Tamirabarani river is referred to in ancient Sangam and Tamil texts. In Mahabharatha (3:88), the river is mentioned as “Listen, O son of Kunti, I shall now describe Tamraparni. In that asylum, the gods had undergone penances impelled by the desire of obtaining salvation.”
Geographical Notes:
The Tamiraparani originates from the peak of the Periya Pothigai hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk.
The great river, like the Cauvery, but unlike most of the other Indian rivers, is fed by both the monsoons – the southwest and the northeastern – and is seen in full spate twice a year if the monsoons do not fail. Prior to the bifurcation of the Tirunelveli district, the Tamiraparani was the only major river in Tamilnadu that had its source and end in the same district. After bifurcation, the river traverses the two districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin before joining the Gulf of Mannar of the Bay of Bengal at Punnaikayal in Tiruchendur taluk of Thoothukkudi district.
The river is 130 kilometers in length, and the Thamirabarani basin is situated between latitudes 8.21 and between 77.10` E longitudes. The forty-meter-deep Vanatheertham waterfalls are located near the origin of the Thamirabarani River. The river is fed by its tributaries as well as by monsoons. The river is joined by its headwater tributaries Peyar, Ullar, Pambar before it flows into the Kariyar Dam reservoir, where it meets Kariyar. The river descends down the mountains near Papanasam, where it forms the Kalyanatheertham falls and Agasthiar falls.
Tributaries Of The River:
From the source to sea, the total length of the river is about 125 km. , of which its course in Tirunelveli district alone is about 75 km. Originating at an altitude of 1725 m. above MSL at Periya Pothigai hill ranges and integral hill track of Western Ghats in Ambasamudram taluk, it passes through the taluks of Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai of Tirunelveli district and Srivaikundam and Tiruchendur taluks of Thoothukkudi district. In the Ghats, the chief tributaries of the river are the Peyar, Ullar, Karaiyar, Servalar and the Pambar.
These rivers join the Tamiraparani and enrich its course before it reaches the plains. The first tributary which enriches the water of the Tamiraparani in the plains on the right side is the Manimuthar. Then comes the Gadananathi, which joins the Tamiraparani at Tiruppudaimaruthur. Before the Gadananathi’s entry into the Tamiraparani, the Gadananadhi is joined by the rivers Kallar, Karunaiyar and Veeranathi or Varahanathi which joins the river Gadananathi about 1. 5 km north-east of Kila Ambur. The river Pachaiyar is another tributary which joins the Tamiraparani near Tharuvai village in Palayamkottai Taluk.
One of the important and affluent tributaries of the Tamiraparani is the Chithar or Chitranathi which arises in the Courtalam hills and receives supply from the rivers Gundar, Hanumanathi and Karuppanathi. The Chithar empities itself into the Tamiraparani in Sivalapperi Village. The river drains with its tributaries an area of about 4400 sq. km. As most of its extensive catchments areas lay in the Western ghats, the river enjoys the full benefit of both the monsoons which make the river perennial.
Since all its tributaries are arising from the Western ghats, the river is prone to heavy floods especially during the North East monsoon. Usage Of The River(Then): Not much is known about the usage of Tamirabarani River back then. The river has been historically known as Podhigai. It finds mention in the ancient Sangam and Tamil texts.
There is an ancient script written as ‘Thamirabarani Mahathmiyam.’ Usage of the River (Now): The many anicuts, dams, and reservoirs on the Thamirabarani river, along with those on the Manimuthar River, provide a large proportion of the water for irrigation and power generation for Tirunelveli District.
It is fed by both the monsoons – the southwest and the northeastern and is seen in full spate twice a year if the monsoons do not fail. The Gadananadhi has six anicuts and a reservoir of 9,970,000 cubic meters and irrigates 38.87 square kilometers of wetlands. The Ramanadhi has seven anicuts, a reservoir of 4,300,000 cubic meters, and irrigates 20.23 square kilometers of wetlands.
The Pachaiyar River has 12 anicuts and irrigates 61.51 square kilometers of wet and dry lands. The important irrigation channels branching off from both the banks of the Tamiraparani river are South Kodaimelalagian channel, North Kodaimelalagian channel (Kodaimelalagian anicut), Nathiyunni channel (Nathiyunni anicut), Kannadian channel (Kannadian anicut), Kodagan channel (Ariyanayagipuram anicut), Palayam (Palavur anicut) channel, Tirunelveli channel (Suthamalli anicut), Marudur Melakkal, Marudur Keelakkal (Marudur anicut), South Main Channel, and North Main Channel (Srivaikundam anicut).
Of these, the first seven anicuts were constructed during the period of ancient and medieval rulers, and the last anicut, namely the Srivaikundam anicut, was constructed and completed by the British in 1869. List of dams across the Thamirabarani river:
- Kodaimelaalagain anicut 1281.67 hectares
- Nathiyunni anicut 1049.37 hectares
- Kannadian anicut 2266.69 hectares
- Ariyanayagipuram anicut 4767.30 hectares
- Palavur anicut 3557.26 hectares
- Suthamalli anicut 2559.69 hectares
- Marudur anicut 7175.64 hectares
List of channels:
- South Kodaimelalagain channel
- North Kodaimelalagain channel
- Nathiyunni channel
- Kannadian channel
- Kodagan channel
- Palayam channel
- Tirunelveli channel
- Marudur Melakkal
- Marudur Keelakal
Pollution and Other Problems:
This was an article in a Tamil daily. Many rivers in Tamil Nadu have already become poisoned due to the mixing of industrial waste and sewage. No measures have been taken to prevent them from degradation. Cooum is the best example of how a river can be degraded into a drainage. Noyyal has been polluted for a long time by the industries in Tiruppur. The Uyyakondan/Kudamuruti river, which passes through Tiruchirappalli, has almost reached the level of a drainage. Thamirabarani was the only perennial river in Tamil Nadu. Now, this river also poses a danger of being polluted due to plastic waste.
Water falling from Coutralam falls is named Sitraaru (Chitra Nadhi in Sanskrit), which is a branch of Tamirabharani and is getting polluted by tourists day by day due to polythene waste. The Servalaaru, another branch river of Tamirabarani, is also getting polluted at its point of origin by tourists. Of late, Thamirabarani River is greatly polluted due to rapid industrialization on its banks, including pulp, paper, textile, various workshops, photographic industries, various small-scale industries leading to the discharge of untreated effluents as well as human and animal waste, etc.
The waste consists of dye stuff, sulphates, sulphide, copper, zinc, lead, phenolics, chlorides, lingocellulosic waste, mercaptans, mercury, etc. The survey conducted at various canals of the Thamirabarani river reveals that the arsenic, chemical, and pollution levels are extremely high compared to the permissible limits. Further, the presence of amala plants in the canal greatly absorbs the oxygen level leading to the death of living things. Besides, the increased presence of microbes spreads a foul smell in the canals. There are shocking reports that one liter of river water contains more than 1,300 microbes.
The presence of a high level of toxic substances in the river water and its consumption causes irritation and other skin-related diseases. There is a huge apprehension among scientists and farmers that if the present situation is allowed to continue, the crops will be greatly affected. Due to sand mining, the number of fish in the river has drastically decreased. In Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar districts, people are hesitating to use the “Jiva Nathi” Tamirabarani’s water for irrigating their fields. The river earlier was the source of water for cooking, consumption, and other uses.
The hotels, factories, and hospitals on the banks of the river are dumping their hazardous waste in the river. The settlements on the banks are also polluting the river. People have been using the river as a place to attend to their natural needs. As a result, some parts of the river have become unfit for human use. Due to the mixing of germs, harmful alloys, and factory waste in the river, the Tamirabharani river is heading towards destruction.
Plans and Projects to Rectify the Problems: Although the government has taken many steps to clean rivers, none of them are being carried out properly. Also, awareness among the people is decreasing day by day. First of all, if the mixing of waste in the river is stopped, two-thirds of the pollution will stop. The river also serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes because sewage mixes into the river. If the sewage is diverted, the breeding of mosquitoes will stop. Rivers and streams provide 65% of our nation’s drinking water.
The second step is to create awareness among the people. Many rivers have been saved due to community projects undertaken by the people. Likewise, if the problems faced by the Tamirabharani river gain awareness, there is scope for positive development.
Conclusion: The problem is never too late to be solved. The future of the Tamirabharani river will be determined by our actions. Do we want our Tamirabharani river, the “Jiva Nathi” Tamirabharani, to become another Cooum? The question is posed before us. The answer to this question lies in our hands. Through the National River Cleanup Program in the US, 900,000+ people have cleaned 162,000+ miles of streams, removing almost 9 million pounds of trash. This could act as an example for us. The steps taken hereafter should be proactive and not improvident.
