Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Barrages, check-dams across major rivers sought

CUDDALORE: The Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association has appealed to the State government to construct as many barrages and check-dams as possible across the Cauvery and the five rivers flowing through Cuddalore district to avert recurring floods.

Association vice-president K.V. Kannan submitted a representation to Public Works Department Secretary S. Adiseseshiah during his recent visit to Cuddalore.

The association said that whenever the Mettur Dam surplussed, the excess water was being let out into the Kollidam. When the Kollidam flow exceeded two lakh cusecs, it invariably caused floods in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts situated on the northern and southern banks respectively.

Therefore, the association was of the view that the number of barrages across the Cauvery should be increased from seven to 16 to reduce the discharge into the Kollidam during monsoon.

It suggested that seven barrages with sluices be erected along the course of the Kollidam. If it were done, flood damage to standing crops, property and habitations in Kattumannarkoil and Chidambaram taluks could be curtailed.

This would also replenish groundwater level, besides giving assured water supply to tail-end delta regions. Putting up check-dams and barrages at reasonable intervals across other major rivers such as the Vellar, the Gedilam, the Thenpennaiyar and the Manimutharu would also mitigate the sufferings of the people. The association advocated the deepening of the Veeranam tank, whose storage capacity had come down from 2 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) to 1.44 tmcft. This would reduce the quantum of discharge from the tank during rainy season.

It also sought diversion of water from the Velliangal odai (that carries the surplus from the Veeranam tank) by digging a canal equipped with a regulator at Kumaratchi to drain it into the Kollidam.

It would save the periphery of Chidambaram from floods. Similarly, the Manavaikkal water that otherwise joins the Velliangal odai should be carried through a new canal to be branched out at Keezharadhampur via Udaiyur to drain in the Kollidam.

The association urged the government to revive the proposal of taking the Karuvattu odai, presently originating from the Ponneri at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram and joining the Vadavar, straight to the Kollidam.

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