Short stretch of canal construction work along Tiruchi-Pudukottai border nears completion

Construction of canal on a short stretch as part of the Phase-I of the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar intra-State river linking project is nearing completion.

The project, aimed at diverting surplus flows from the Cauvery to water deficit parts of the State such as Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar by building a canal from the Cauvery to the Vaigai and the Gundar. began in 2021. The barrage across the Cauvery at Mayanur in Karur district forms the head of the new 262-km link canal to carry the surplus water from the Cauvery to the South Vellar, the Vaigai and finally the Gundar. The canal will have a capacity to carry about 6,000 cusecs of water.

Under the first phase of the project, the canal will be built from Mayanur barrage to South Vellar — a distance of about 118.45 km — at an estimated cost of ₹6,941 crore. The canal will run through Karur (47.23 km), Tiruchi (18.89 km) and Pudukottai (52.32 km) districts.

While the process of land acquisition is going on in Karur, Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has taken up construction of the canal on two short stretches in Karur, Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts. Construction work is under way for about 4.5 km stretch in Karur and Tiruchi districts and 5.35 km in Pudukottai district. The work on the periphery of Pudukottai and Tiruchi districts near Nagamangalam, Kolarpatti and Mathur is progressing well.

A senior official of WRD told The Hindu that about 85% of the 5.35-km stretch had been completed. There were no hurdles in terms of land acquisitions and work would be completed by March 2025. Steps had been taken to complete land acquisition in Tiruchi, Karur and Pudukottai for carrying out canal construction work on other stretches as early as possible.

Published - November 27, 2024 06:50 pm IST