The scenic Ponnaniyar dam in the hilly Kadavur region of Karur district is being renovated under the World Bank-funded ‘Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project’ at an estimate of Rs. 2.50 crore.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The work aims at extending the life of the dam and its structures.
Set in sylvan surroundings, about 66 kms from here, the dam is nestled between Perumal Malai and Semmalai.
While the dam and its catchment area are located in Karur district, the ayacut area of the dam is spread over Mugavanur panchayat and neighbouring villages in Tiruchi district.
The dam has 2,100 acres, mostly dry land.
According to sources in the Ariyar Division of the Public Works Department, the dam was built in 1974. Rainwater flow from the Kadavur region is the main source of water for the dam. The catchment area is spread over 33.60 square miles.
The dam stands 51 metres tall with a storage capacity of 120 million cubic feet (mcft). On Tuesday, the storage at the dam stood at 36.63 mcft.
Although minor projects to develop the dam as a picnic spot were executed previously, this is the first major renovation being taken up in the structure, the sources said.
Picnickers would stand to benefit as the project involves blacktopping the approach road to the dam for 4 km from Mugavanur and providing lighting.
“Tenders for the project have been called and the bids will be opened on December 11.
The project will be completed in a year’s time,” an official of the Public Works Department told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Farmers of the region have been demanding the dredging of the supplying channels.
However, this would not be a component of the project.
The retaining wall had been strengthened to a length of 155 metres at an estimate of Rs. one crore.
An old generator will be replaced by new one at an expenditure of Rs. 20 lakh. “The entire work aims at rehabilitating the dam,” the source said.
The full tank level is 51 feet and water is released when it touches 43 feet.
“But in the past five years, it has not reached the level,” the source said.
Last year, the level touched 38.5 feet and water could not be discharged.
Supply channels
The source said that the PWD has planned to strengthen the supply channels to a length of about 16 km.
The ayacut is located in Mugavanur, Anaikaraipatti, Pudhumaniyampatti, Theerthampatti and Manpathai.
