10 new check dams for Chennai to prevent depletion of ground water

Chennai:

In a bid to conserve rain water and prevent depletion of the groundwater table in the city, Water Resources Department is planning to construct 10 check dams.

Addressing an event to mark World Water Day here on Friday, chief engineer of water resources department R Emaraj said that currently work is to start in three check dams while seven are still under the consideration.

He said the work on check dam in Thirukandalam across the Kosasthalaiyar river in Tiruvallur district is about to start. Once the check dam is finished, it could store about 150-200 million cubic feet of water.

He said the water resources department has also sent a proposal to build a check dam in Nallathur and Irullipattu. Emaraj said the three dams could store .5 TMC feet of water.

He also said that the city has adequate water to last till July 31. He said the state is currently receiving 300 cusecs of water from Andhra Pradesh as the repair work is being undertaken  in Uppalamadagu canal near Kalalahasti in Andhra Pradesh. “Once the work is completed, the state is expected to get its share of water,” he added.

He also said that Veeranam tank is getting only miniscule amount of water as the parched bed of the canal absorbs the water. He also said the water resources department is also planning to increase the capacity of reservoirs so that it can hold one TMC feet of water.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Department is  set to undertake repair works in 42 dams following the funds allocated by World bank.

R Subramanian, Chairman, Cauvery Technical Cell highlighted the need for efficient use of water for irrigation.. S S Rajagopal, director of State Water Resources Management Agency (SWaRMA), R S  Jagadish Chandra Babu Chief Engineer,Water Resources Department, (State Ground and Surface Water Research data Centre) also spoke on the occasion.