Kollidam to get new regulators at Rs 410 crore, announces CM

Speaking to media persons after his inspection, the Chief Minister said that as many as nine shutters of the regulator were washed away due to the sudden increase in water flow. He said a temporary facility would be constructed in four days’ time to check the flow of water. 

“The heavy flow was witnessed in the regulator in 1924, 1977, 2005 and 2013. During these periods, the water was discharged for not more than six days. But this time, the water was discharged for eight days in the first phase and for 12 days in the second. Thus, the pressure had caused damage to the regulator,” Palaniswami said.

Stating that an expert committee has been constituted to find a permanent solution to the issue, he said a new regulator in southern and northern sides of the Kollidam would be constructed. 

Accordingly, the southern arm (side) would have 45 vents constructed at a cost of Rs 325 crore, while the northern arm, expected to cost Rs 85 crore, would have 10 vents. 

The administrative sanctions for the project has already been issued and works would start soon after the expert committee finishes its study. The work on the new regulators would be completed within 15 months, the CM said.

Meanwhile, Palaniswami said the collapse of the regulator would not affect the samba cultivation and the distribution of water to the Cauvery also remains unaffected. Presently 15,000 cusecs of water have been discharged into the Cauvery. 

Responding to a query whether excess sand mining could have caused the collapse, Palaniswami dismissed the charges and said sand mining took place as per the regulations. 

He said that public and construction firms have been sensitised to utilise M-sand instead of river sand and around 30 per cent of people have started using M-sand.

The Chief Minister also refuted allegations that the carelessness of authorities in monitoring the structure might have been a cause. 

The officials concerned take remedial action whenever problems like breaches take place, he added.

A section of farmers and residents living near the Mukkombu (Upper Anaicut) dam in Tiruchy on Friday handed over a petition to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, urging him to direct authorities to construct the new regulator across the Kollidam with a facility for vehicle movement. According to the petition, those residing nearby especially students and farmers are struggling to reach the other side of the river after the regulator collapsed. Around 50 villages remained cut-off as a result. “The new regulator should be constructed in such a way to allow motorists to ply their vehicles. This would benefit people living in the area,” the petition stated.