Finally, Shenbagathoppu dam ready to serve agricultural lands

The shutters which got stuck when the dam was first operated in 2007 has been repaired at a cost of Rs16.40 crores. The dam, which was completed in six years after the foundation was laid in 2000, ran into shutter problems and that irked farmers as they were unable to get any water though the facility can store water to a height of 62 feet (287.2 mcft). Kalasapakkam AIADMK MLA A Paneeerselvam, who worked tirelessly to get the reservoir functional, told DT Next, “though the dam is in Kalasapakkam Assembly constituency the water will help irrigate a total of 7860 acres under 41 irrigation tanks in the Polur, Cheyyar, Wandavaasi and Arani Assembly segments in Tiruvannamalai district and Arcot Assembly constituency in Ranipet.”

Asked why he took so much interest (he had even threatened to stage a fast with farmers) when the facility would not help his onstituency, he said, “the dam will recharge water table in seven villages in my constituency but as a farmer I know how much the ryots in other areas depend on this reservoir.”

Paneerselvam recently visited the dam made sure the shutters are in working condition.

He said, “Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will inaugurate the dam through video conferencing shortly. Because the CM was a farmer, he sanctioned funds immediately when I approached him on this issue.”