Bengaluru: A 17th century dam built across the river Cauvery in Kattepura, Arkalgudu taluk, Hassan is helping tail-end farmers of villages in Arakalagudu and Krishnaraja Nagar taluks get water faster as the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) has modernised its canals to cater to their needs.
Going by a stone carving on the wall of the dam, it dates back to 1732 AD and it’s believed it could have been the first to have been built across the river before two more barrages were constructed over the Cauvery flowing through Krishnaraja Nagar. But CNNL officials have no documents to show who was responsible for building it.
While the dam has been built using stones, lime water and boulders, its canals have been modernised with concrete, helping its water reach the tail- end areas in two to three days.
“Canals were made of mud in the past, and this slowed down the flow of their water to the tail end villages,” explained CNNL officials. Thanks to the agency's efforts, the 83 km long right bank canal and the 37 km left bank canal are now providing water to irrigate about 8,110 acres in the villages of Arakalaguidu and KR Nagar. “The structure is firm with reinforcement work having been taken up by the Nigam,” said an official.
