Desilting work on in full swing to prepare canals, lakes ahead of Mettur dam opening

The special officers, appointed by the State government to inspect the ongoing works at the districts, on Tuesday asked to expedite the entire desilt and kudimaramathu scheme works on time prior to the Mettur dam water release.

In Tiruchy, as many as 20 works to the tune of Rs 1.76 crore under desilt programme which would cover 53.24 kms while 16 works under kudimaramathu scheme to the tune of Rs 4.12 crore are underway and the principal secretary and special officer A Karthik visited the spots and inspected the ongoing works and asked the officials incharge to ensure de-weeding the waterbodies prior to the desilt works. According to the district collector S Sivarasu, the irrigation canals at Mekudi in Srirangam which carry out the excess water flows to a distance of 3600 metres and reaches the Cauvery river through Kodingal drains. The canal which has been covered with silt would be removed with an estimated cost of Rs 9.80 lakh while the major canal which starts at Anthanallur reaches the Kambarasampettai after flowing a distance of 9000 metres. Along these canals, the Uyyankondan canal and Nangam canals which are the major irrigation sources of Tiruchy would also be desilted to ensure water reaches the tail end areas, the collector said.

Meanwhile, in Tiruvarur, special officer Rajesh Lakhoni who inspected the ongoing desilt works at Needamangalam said, the desilt works are undertaken on a war footing manner. The officials are instructed to accelerate the works and ensure that the entire desilt and kudimaramathu works are completed before the release of Mettur dam so that the water flow would be free. He also asked the PWD officials to make use of the machineries from other district to complete the works on time. In Tiruvarur alone, a sum of Rs 22.56 crore has been allotted for the desilting of 102 waterbodies in the district.