logo
Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated

Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated

The Hindu6 days ago

Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan inaugurated two check dams and a causeway with vents across Kaundinya river in Gudiyatham to prevent flooding during monsoon, and provide access to key towns.
The Minister was accompanied by Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi, and senior officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD).
'The check dams will help irrigate at least 560 hectares of farmlands in the region. Moreover, local bodies can sink borewells along the facilities to draw water for consumption,' S. Kalipriyarn, Assistant Engineer, WRD (Gudiyatham), told The Hindu.
Funded by NABARD under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2023-24, the check dams were built at a cost of ₹25 crore. Each 120-metre-long and 1.2-metre-tall facility has a capacity of 2.51 mcft (million cubic feet) and can discharge 53,000 cusecs of floodwater.
They will help recharge at least 530 farmwells in the region. Around 10-12 farming villages will benefit as groundwater within a three-km radius from the facilities would increase.
After a long struggle, residents in Gudiyatham and adjoining farming villages now have a causeway, built at a cost of ₹8.41 crore using funds from NABARD. It connects Thalayatham with Sunnabupettai village across the river.
The causeway measures 104.2 metres in length and 2.7 metres in height (from the riverbed) with 10 vents. It can discharge 58,000 cusecs per minute of floodwater during monsoon. Officials said such high discharge of rainwater would prevent the facility from being flooded.
'Earlier, we had to take a detour of at least 20 km to reach Gudiyatham, Pernambut, and Pallikonda towns. School vans and ambulances had to navigate a long sandy route. The new bridge has ended our ordeal,' S. Pechiammal, a resident, said.
A 500-metre-long tiled walking track was also inaugurated. It was built at a cost of ₹2.91 crore on the left bund of the river. Steel fencing has been erected to prevent accidents, officials say.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated
Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated

The Hindu

time6 days ago

  • The Hindu

Check dams, causeway across Kaundinya river in Vellore inaugurated

Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan inaugurated two check dams and a causeway with vents across Kaundinya river in Gudiyatham to prevent flooding during monsoon, and provide access to key towns. The Minister was accompanied by Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi, and senior officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD). 'The check dams will help irrigate at least 560 hectares of farmlands in the region. Moreover, local bodies can sink borewells along the facilities to draw water for consumption,' S. Kalipriyarn, Assistant Engineer, WRD (Gudiyatham), told The Hindu. Funded by NABARD under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2023-24, the check dams were built at a cost of ₹25 crore. Each 120-metre-long and 1.2-metre-tall facility has a capacity of 2.51 mcft (million cubic feet) and can discharge 53,000 cusecs of floodwater. They will help recharge at least 530 farmwells in the region. Around 10-12 farming villages will benefit as groundwater within a three-km radius from the facilities would increase. After a long struggle, residents in Gudiyatham and adjoining farming villages now have a causeway, built at a cost of ₹8.41 crore using funds from NABARD. It connects Thalayatham with Sunnabupettai village across the river. The causeway measures 104.2 metres in length and 2.7 metres in height (from the riverbed) with 10 vents. It can discharge 58,000 cusecs per minute of floodwater during monsoon. Officials said such high discharge of rainwater would prevent the facility from being flooded. 'Earlier, we had to take a detour of at least 20 km to reach Gudiyatham, Pernambut, and Pallikonda towns. School vans and ambulances had to navigate a long sandy route. The new bridge has ended our ordeal,' S. Pechiammal, a resident, said. A 500-metre-long tiled walking track was also inaugurated. It was built at a cost of ₹2.91 crore on the left bund of the river. Steel fencing has been erected to prevent accidents, officials say.

Work begins to desilt Kalingarayan Canal's baby channel
Work begins to desilt Kalingarayan Canal's baby channel

The Hindu

time24-05-2025

  • The Hindu

Work begins to desilt Kalingarayan Canal's baby channel

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has begun work to desilt the baby channel of the Kalingarayan Canal to ensure the free flow of sewage. The 91.1-km-long Kalingarayan Canal, constructed by the Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan in the 13th century, irrigates 15,743 acres across the Erode, Modakkurichi, and Kodumudi taluks. A baby channel was constructed 11 years ago from Bhavani to Vairapalayam to address pollution caused by the dumping of household waste and the discharge of industrial effluents. The project aimed to treat sewage and discharge processed water into the Cauvery River. However, untreated sewage continues to flow directly into the Cauvery, as there is no effluent treatment plant in place. Currently, clogging in the baby channel, caused by weeds and plastic waste, is preventing the flow of water. Farmers and residents have been urging the WRD to undertake desilting of the channel. On Thursday, Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, inaugurated desilting work along a 20-km stretch of the baby canal, at a total cost of ₹28.25 lakh. The work began from the Kalingarayan anicut in Bhavani up to the 12/3rd mile. An earthmover has been deployed to remove weeds and dumped waste. The Minister stated that the work will be completed within a month, after which the flow of water will no longer be disrupted. The WRD has already submitted a proposal to extend the baby channel by an additional six km, from Vairapalayam to Vendipalayam. The proposal has been approved by the State government. A senior WRD engineer said that the proposal also includes development works in the Kalingarayan Canal, with both projects estimated to cost ₹83.30 crore in total. A government order for the works is expected soon, after which construction will commence.

Residents raise concern over continued sewage release into Korattur lake
Residents raise concern over continued sewage release into Korattur lake

The Hindu

time15-05-2025

  • The Hindu

Residents raise concern over continued sewage release into Korattur lake

Residents of Korattur have raised concern over the continued release of sewage into the Korattur lake through storm-water drains, flagging the risk it poses to the lake's fragile ecosystem. The lake, one of the key waterbodies in the western parts of Chennai, remains a thriving habitat for migratory and resident birds. Residents and activists said the waterbody, which attracted different species of birds, also faced threat of degradation owing to sewage pollution and encroachments. S. Sekaran, secretary, Korattur Aeri Padukappu Makkal Iyakkam, said the lake was polluted with sewage entering through storm-water drains from the neighbourhoods such as Karukku and Muthamizh Nagar. This also led to unchecked growth of dense aquatic vegetation in the lake. Pollution would affect the lake's ecosystem and biodiversity as it provides a crucial habitat for birds. 'We have submitted representations to various government agencies and elected representatives to plug sewage outfalls,' he said. Residents and activists also suggested the lake, which is under the Water Resources Department (WRD), to be declared a bird sanctuary. This may enhance its ecological protection and increase revenue through eco-tourism efforts. S. Ravisankar, an amateur birder in Ambattur, who has been a birdwatching at the lake since 2016, said: 'We observed 45 species of birds earlier this week. The lake is visited by several migratory birds too. Species such as Asian Openbills congregate in large numbers. The lake is a breeding ground for resident birds such as Indian Pied Starling.' Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel said: 'I have raised the need for lake restoration in the Assembly at least thrice. A ₹23-crore project chalked out by the WRD is in the process of getting funds. The lake needs to be desilted.' Efforts are being taken to construct an incomplete portion of a channel linking surplus water from the Ambattur lake through Pattaravakkam and Karukku to the Korattur lake, he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store