WRD begins construction of 2 new check dams across Palar in Tirupattur

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has commenced the ₹77.30-crore project to construct two new check dams and repair existing ones across the Palar in Tirupattur.

Officials of the WRD said the new check dams across the river at Amballur and Sangalikuppam villages would help prevent floods during monsoons. They would also help store excess rainwater for irrigation. “While the new check dams will be completed in 18 months, other works such as restoration of existing check dams and pipe-laying works will be done by December 2026,” S. Balaji, Assistant Executive Engineer, WRD (Tirupattur), told The Hindu.

Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand laid the foundation for the works in Tirupattur in the presence of District Collector K. Siva Soundaravalli. “Crops can now be cultivated for three seasons in a year as the new check dams will help recharge groundwater in the surrounding villages,” said N. Kandan, a farmer.

Funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2024-25, the two check dams will be built at a cost of ₹58.50 crore. On average, each check dam is 250 metres long and 1.2 metres high, with a total capacity of 2.51 mcft (million cubic feet). Each check dam can discharge over one lakh cusecs of excess rainwater. At full capacity, water from each check dam can cover at least 250 acres.

WRD officials said the two existing check dams, which were damaged during the 2021 floods, across the river at Jafrabad and Kondai Oosi villages near Ambur town would be restored at a cost of ₹8 crore. The retaining wall of these will be strengthened to prevent water seepage during monsoons.

In the coming days, WRD officials will demolish a large number of encroachments on both sides of the river to restore its original width. After the demolition, boundary stones will be erected on the bunds of the restored river to prevent future encroachments. Restoration of the river’s original width will help prevent inundation in residential areas and farmland. This work will be carried out at a cost of ₹9.5 crore.

For farmers, the new check dams and restoration works in the river will help recharge at least 900 farm wells in the area. Around 20 farming villages will benefit as the groundwater level will increase in around a 3-km radius of the check dams. The check dams will also help irrigate 3,732 acres of farmland along the river, benefiting at least 3.4 lakh residents in the region.