Check dam across Ayyar to be ready by October.

Construction of anaicut across the Ayyar river near Musiri is all set to change the land profile of villages around Chithambur.

It is one of the 10 check dam projects in Tiruchi district announced by the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the Collectors’ conference held in December 2013, at a cost of Rs. 26.13 crore. Of them, the project at Chithambur is said to be a major work undertaken at a cost of Rs. 6.45 crore.

The anaicut will run 75 metres long and stand 2.25 metres tall. It will have a head sluice structure to carry water to the Chithambur lake, one of the biggest lakes in Musiri taluk. Establishment of bunds for 2 km at the upper stream and 500 metres along lower stream are part of the project. The anaicut will have four vents to regulate the water flow.

Besides the main structure, establishment of bunds have been completed. The Public Works Department began the work in March and is expected to expedite the work before the onset of monsoon in October.

V. Selvaraj, Executive Engineer, Ariyaru Basin Division, PWD, Tiruchi, said the anaicut would store 5.03 mcft of water mainly during October, November and December. A total of 163.22 acres of ayacut would benefit. Moreover, it would change the profile of lands of many villages, particularly Chithambur, Kodunthurai, Komangalam and Neyveli by helping recharge groundwater.

Stating that the anaicut would fulfil the demand of the people of Chithambur, R.A. Murugesan, Assistant Executive Engineer, PWD, said the Ayyar river would get steady flow from the lower reaches of Pachamalai and neighbouring hills during monsoon period.

The anaicut would check the flow and store water to recharge the groundwater. It would enable the water managers to ensure drinking water supply to the villages.

Mr. Selvaraj said around 50 per cent of the work had been completed. It had been decided to complete the work before October.

The check dam would be ready to store water from November.


THE HINDU