The Water Resources Department (WRD) has commenced the ₹77.30-crore project to construct two new check dams and repair existing ones across the Palar in Tirupattur.
Officials of the WRD said the new check dams across the river at Amballur and Sangalikuppam villages would help prevent floods during monsoons. They would also help store excess rainwater for irrigation. “While the new check dams will be completed in 18 months, other works such as restoration of existing check dams and pipe-laying works will be done by December 2026,” S. Balaji, Assistant Executive Engineer, WRD (Tirupattur), told The Hindu.
Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand laid the foundation for the works in Tirupattur in the presence of District Collector K. Siva Soundaravalli. “Crops can now be cultivated for three seasons in a year as the new check dams will help recharge groundwater in the surrounding villages,” said N. Kandan, a farmer.
Funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2024-25, the two check dams will be built at a cost of ₹58.50 crore. On average, each check dam is 250 metres long and 1.2 metres high, with a total capacity of 2.51 mcft (million cubic feet). Each check dam can discharge over one lakh cusecs of excess rainwater. At full capacity, water from each check dam can cover at least 250 acres.
