Irrigation to an extent of about 217 acres of land will be stabilised through the construction of a check dam across the Ariyar at Ammapettai in the district, Public Works Department officials have said.
Nearly 95 per cent of the construction of the check dam, running for 110 metres, had been completed and the work would be completed shortly. The check dam is being built at a cost of Rs. 3.06 crore with assistance from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
On Tuesday, Suresh Kumar, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, and V. Selvaraj, Executive Engineer, PWD (Ariyar Division), inspected the construction of the check dam and interacted with local farmers, who reported a rise in the water table in their wells following the construction of check dam as the recent rain had brought in some good inflow.
Mr. Selvaraj said that over 138 wells and 227 borewells within the 3-km radius would benefit from the rise in the water table because of the construction of the check dam.
Drinking water sources would be augmented.
