Anand Announces 27 Check Dams Across Major Rivers To Store Water

Chennai: Water Resources minister N. Anand on Wednesday announced that 27 check dams would be constructed in 13 districts at an estimated budget of Rs. 206 crore to store the water in major rivers and raise the ground water table. He also came out with schemes to renovate the irrigation structures besides water diversion and distribution from major rivers.

He also announced the construction of a wall along the river Adyar on the lower side of Jafferkhanpet bridge in a budget of Rs. 25 crore to mitigate floods. A wall along the Bay of Bengal would come up for a distance of five kilometers from Nedugai to Nettukuppam in Tiruvottiyur to prevent sea erosion.

Replying to the discussion on the demand for grants to his ministry at the Assembly, the Minister said a check dam would come up across the river Amaravathi at Melapalayam village in Karur at a budget of Rs. 34 crore. Anicut systems would be formed to divert river water to the lakes at nine places in six districts at a cost of Rs. 97 crore. One of the major anicut formations would come up across the Cheyyar in Karaipoondi village and the water would be diverted to the Mandakolathur and Eeyakolathur lakes.

Anand said a wall on the river bed of Thanjavur would be formed with an allocation of Rs. 15 crore to prevent erosion of the sand bed due to the water flow. It would be built at Madi village in Papanasam and it would also divert the river Vennar water to the Kalancheri canal.

The minister said two bed dams (Padugai anai) would be built across the river Vaigai at a budget of Rs. 31 crore to divert water to Kochadai, Achampathu and Kridhumal canals. He also announced the construction of six distribution dams to distribute water among the water bodies in six districts at an estimation of Rs. 13 crore. In four districts, four water regulators would be built across rivers and canals at a cost of Rs. 15 crore to regulate the water flow.

Anand announced an allocation of Rs. 695 crore for the renovation, improvement, re-construction and repair of irrigation structures to protect the water resources and provide water to the agricultural lands without obstruction. One of the major renovations would be carried out at the Cauvery near Elamaur village in Srirangam in Tiruchi district. The sluice gates in seven districts would be repaired and renovated at a budget of Rs. 19 crore to regulate the water distribution. He said maintenance work would be carried out in 11 dams in 8 districts at a cost of Rs. 94 crore.

HIGHLIGHTS

Rs. 206 crore for check dams, Rs. 25 crore for wall along Adyar

Rs. 97 crore for Anicut systems to divert water

Rs. 31 crore for two bed dams across Vaigai

Rs. 13 crore for distribution dams at six districts

Rs. 15 crore for building water regulators across rivers, canals

Rs. 19 crore for sluice gate repairs, Rs. 94 crore for dam maintenance

Wall along Thiruvottiyur beach to prevent sea erosion