As a move to create artificial recharge structures, the Public Works Department (PWD) has begun the construction of 10 check dams across different rivers of the district.
They will come up at Nagaiyanallur across Karaipattanaru, Irungalur across Upparu, Ammapettai across the Ariyaru, Malaiyadipatti across Thombiyaru. Check dam construction has been taken up at Kanneer Vadugapatti across Koraiyaru, Chettiapatti across Kannutharu, and Nagallur across Thazhugaiyaru. Ayyaru will have two check dams at Chithambur and Veeramachanpatti.
A sum of Rs. 26.13 crore had been earmarked for the projects.
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V. Selvaraj, Executive Engineer, PWD, Ariyaru division, said the construction work had been progressing well.
Of the 10 check dams, eight check dams would be built by the end of October.
Remaining two check dams would be completed within December. It had been decided to store water received in the forthcoming monsoon season.
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Most rivers, where check dams were constructed, were jungle streams in nature. They got enormous inflow during monsoon period.
Since there were no sufficient structures to check the flow of water, it could not be harnessed to the optimum level.
Huge amount of rainwater went waste.
The check dams were aimed at checking the flow to recharge the groundwater, wells, and borewells.
Check dams
Mr. Selvaraj said check dams at Chithambur and Veeramachanpatti across Ayyaru would cost Rs. 6.45 crore and Rs. 2.60 crore respectively.
Veeramachanpatti check dam would facilitate the recharge of groundwater at Veeramachanpatti, Kembiyampatti, and Vadakuveli villages and 112 wells and 18 borewells. It would solve the drinking water problems in the surrounding areas to a large extent.