A year and two months after the Thirukandalam check dam across the Kosasthalaiyar river was damaged during the 2015 floods, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has finally proposed to repair the structure.
The check dam across the 175-metre-wide river at Thirukandalam in Tiruvallur district was damaged during the flash floods in December 2015. According to estimates, nearly 75,000 million cubic feet of floodwater drained into the sea through the Kosasthalaiyar, Adyar and Cooum rivers during the torrential downpour.
The check dam was constructed about three years ago at Thirukandalam, located 27 km from Chennai, a portion of the structure measuring 30 metre and regulator were damaged when the river swelled beyond its capacity. However, the river remains dry for a year now.
The WRD is now preparing the estimate and design to repair the check dam, which was constructed at a cost of ₹33 crore then. It is then expected to store nearly 200 cubic feet of water and help augment the groundwater table in nearly 80 villages in and around Thirukandalam.
V. Durai, a resident of Poondi, said the water table had plummeted below 100 feet in many villages as the Kosasthalaiyar river was dry. Normally, it carries about 65,000 cusecs of water during monsoon. “Now, the entire floodwater has drained into the sea. Most of us have not cultivated paddy or groundnut for want of resources. Several villages such as Agaram and Alinzhivakkam are facing drinking water crisis,” he said.
Residents welcomed the project proposal to restore the 5.5 metre high structure that would help retain water up to a distance of 8 km in the river. The check dam was built between Tamaraipakkam anicut and Cholavaram lake and stores surplus water that is let into the river from the Poondi reservoir and the anicut.
The department has also planned to transfer water stored in the check dam to Cholavaram lake. The strengthening works would begin soon, officials said.
