Check dam work speeded up

Minister for Public Works K.V. Ramalingam has instructed officials to expedite some of the major works being executed by the department in and around the city.

The Minister on Monday inspected the progress of work on the construction of the aqueduct, which would regulate the flow of water in Uyyakondan and Kudamuritti rivers at the Puthur weir in the city and the check dam coming up across the Cauvery at Kambarasampettai. He inspected the renovation of the shutters of the barrage at Mukkombu.

Construction of the aqueduct, one of the important components of the Rs. 253.71-crore flood prevention project, has reached the final stages and is expected to be completed before the irrigation season.

A unique structure in terms of design and size in the State, the aqueduct was being built at a cost of Rs.14.50 crore. The structure would have a capacity to carry about 700 cusecs of water, normally released in the Uyyakondan river. Once complete, the structure would ensure that flood discharges from the Koraiyar and other jungle streams during the monsoon flowed into the Kudamuritti that ultimately drains into the Cauvery. The regulatory arrangement is intended to prevent flooding of low-lying colonies, especially those along the Vayalur Road in the city.

D. Payinthamizhselvan, Chief Engineer, PWD, Tiruchi Region, E. Tamilarasan, Superintending Engineer, and P. Balasubramanian, Executive Engineer, PWD, briefed the Minister on the progress of the work.

The officials informed the Minister that 80 per cent of the work on the check dam across the Cauvery has been completed. The check dam was intended to harness excess flow in the river during the monsoon and help improve the water table, especially around the drinking water sources of the city.

At Mukkombu, the Minister inspected the work on renovating 25 shutters currently under way.