Minister lays foundation for two check dams across Palar, Ponnai near Katpadi

Minister for Water Resources and Katpadi MLA Duraimurugan virtually laid the foundation stone for two check dams across Palar and its tributary Ponnai river near Katpadi in Vellore on Saturday. The project seeks to prevent inundation of the town during monsoon and also to help recharge of groundwater in surrounding villages for irrigation.

Officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) said that the two new check dams will help irrigate at least 1,200 hectares of farmland in the region. “Also, local bodies can sink borewells along the new facility to draw water for consumption,” S. Ramkumar, Assistant Engineer (AE), WRD (Katpadi), told The Hindu.

Along with Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand, Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi inspected the site where the work will be taken up. “As the region along Palar is arid with farmers having to depend on deep bore wells for irrigation, new check dams will help to store excess rainwater and increase groundwater level. More such check dams across the river should be built,” said V. Kandan, a farmer.

Funded by NABARD under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme 2025-26, the two check dams will be built at a total cost of ₹69.52 crore. The check dam across Palar will be 470 metres long with a total storage capacity of 10.27 mcft (million cubic feet). The new facility across Ponneri river will be 198 metres long and total storage capacity of 7.36 mcft (million cubic feet). The total height of each facility will be 1.5 feet.

Each check dam, on an average, can discharge 80,000 cusecs of excess rainwater. During its full capacity, water at each check dam covers at least 120 acres. For farmers, the new check dams will help recharge at least 315 farm wells in the region. Around 10-12 farming villages will get benefitted as groundwater level will increase to around three kms radius from these check dams.