A two-member team of experts from the Central Water Commission, New Delhi, inspected the Grand Anicut Canal in Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts for a first-hand assessment of the proposed extension, renovation and modernisation of the canal system.
The Public Works Department had submitted the proposal costing Rs. 2,610 crore to the CWC three years ago and the Commission gave the in-principle consent in 2013.
The CWC team comprised Chief Engineer M.K. Sinha and Director, Project Appraisal, Pramod Narayan.
The PWD contingent led by Chief Engineer S. Asokan, Superintending Engineer R. Senthil Kumar and Executive Engineer, Grand Anicut Canal, D. Revathy, explained the features of the system, the need for extensive renovation and scope of benefits after modernisation.
The CWC team inspected the GA Canal head at Grand Anicut, Adappanpallam drain, Thanjavur town, Kalyanaodai Branch Channel Head, Maharajasamudram aqueduct, Mumbalai tail end and Edayathimangalam tank and assessed the condition of the GA Canal system structures.
Mr. Asokan informed the CWC team that after its construction during 1925-34, it is yet to undergo a full scale renovation and modernisation. Running a course of 148.6-km, the GA Canal irrigates an estimated 2.27 lakh acres in Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts. The Chief Engineer pointed out that there were 319 branch channels running to 1,143.30 km, including the laterals, and the canal feeds 694 system tanks in the two districts.
The Chief Engineer pointed out that the canal system was not operating to its optimum condition due to seepages, slippages, etc. Tail-end area farmers were being deprived of their due share of water because of operational loss that has resulted in overall reduction in the designed capacity in terms of conveyance efficiency.
