The Viswakudi tank under construction in Veppanthattai block will be developed as a tourism centre and the Public Works Department has sent a comprehensive plan to the government seeking funds for providing necessary infrastructure.
The plan, among other things, included setting up a massive park with gardens and lawns. Saplings of shade-giving trees and flowering plants will be grown here. An Inspection Bangalow would be constructed.
A new road linking the tank with Thondamanthurai would be laid, said S. Asokan, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department.
“The plan has been designed in such a manner that it will be one of the important tourism attraction centres in the district,” he said.
Presently, a road is being laid linking the Viswakudi tank with Annamangalam to a length of 1.20 km.
Mr. Asokan said the tank, which was constructed at a total estimate of Rs.33.07 crore, would be able to harvest the jungle stream across the Kallar.
The length of the embankment wall was 665 metre and it has a capacity to store 30.67 million cubic feet of water to a depth of 10 metres.
Soil erosion will be prevented due to setting up of boulders on the banks. The district administration has sanctioned additional funds for storing water to meet the drinking water needs of villagers in the periphery in and around Viswakudi.
The tank would ensure irrigational facility – directly and indirectly to a total area of 1,449.41 acres. Primarily it would ensure irrigation for the Vengalam tank ayacutdars for 421.41 acres, since Vengalam ayacutdars are the direct beneficiaries of the Kallar for several centuries.
Since the storage at the tank would stabilise the ground water potential in the area, another 2,169 acres of dry land would be irrigated, indirectly, including 169 acres through wells. The work on the tank would be completed by October-end.
Till last year, water was being wasted and floods caused havoc in the villages.
