The stretch of the Cheyyar river in Kancheepuram district is set to get its third storage structure this month. Though the district received near-normal northeast monsoon rainfall, localities near the river report a better groundwater table as water flow persists near the upcoming Silambakkam anicut.
The work to build the ₹35.21 crore structure in Uthiramerur taluk is in the final stages of completion and revetment work and desilting of supply channels are being carried out by the Water Resources Department (WRD). Once completed, it would improve irrigation, support drinking water needs and recharge groundwater in parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts.
The new anicut is being constructed between Uthiramerur anicut and Vengacheri anicut at the 171st km of Cheyyar river in Kancheepuram. The 475-metre-long structure with a height of 1.5 metres would help irrigate an ayacut of nearly 1,623.54 acre in villages, including Magaral, Silambakkam, Oghukarai, and Vengaram in Kancheepuram and Arasanipalai, Punnai, and Pudupalayam in Tiruvannamalai district.
The Cheyyar river is a major tributary of Palar river that originates in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai district and merges with Palar at Thirumukoodal.
