Tamil Nadu to build 27 check dams across 13 districts to conserve floodwater

In a move to address the twin challenges of floods and water scarcity, the Tamil Nadu government will construct 27 check dams across 13 districts to conserve floodwater and replenish groundwater, at a cost of ₹206.75 crore. The announcement was made by Water Resources Minister N. Anand in the State Assembly on Wednesday during the discussion on the department’s Demands for Grants.

Check dams are low-height barriers designed to slow the flow of water in streams and rivers, allowing it to percolate into the soil and recharge aquifers. They are increasingly seen as a cost-effective way to augment water supplies, particularly in a state like Tamil Nadu that depends significantly on monsoon rainfall.

Mr. Anand said one such dam would be built across the Amaravati river near Melapalayam village in Karur district. He also announced two bed dams in Madurai and other districts at a cost of ₹31.50 crore to arrest riverbed erosion and facilitate groundwater recharge.

The Minister invited Members of the Legislative Assembly to participate in monthly meetings with WRD officials to discuss constituency-specific issues and find immediate solutions. He said a decision on releasing water from the Mettur dam for delta irrigation would be taken soon, with the department closely monitoring storage levels.

In a significant push for improving existing irrigation infrastructure, the department will take up 96 works to repair, renovate and restore waterbodies and channels across 30 districts, including Tiruchi, at a cost of ₹695.42 crore. Additionally, 1,628 artificial groundwater recharge structures will be installed across 35 districts at a cost of ₹28.9 crore.

To strengthen flood resilience, 49 flood protection wall works costing ₹218.29 crore will be executed in 19 districts. In Chennai, a wall will be built across the Adyar river near Jaffarkhanpet at a cost of ₹25 crore. The department will also restore dam infrastructure in 11 districts, including Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Ramanathapuram, at a cost of ₹246.93 crore, repair sea walls in north Chennai, and prepare an impact assessment report for existing schemes.

Under the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Mr. Anand made 46 announcements covering poverty alleviation and rural indebtedness. Roads stretching 3,200 km under panchayat union and village panchayats will be improved at a cost of ₹1,634 crore. To boost water resources and irrigation capacity, 10,000 new ponds will be created in rural areas at an estimated cost of ₹650 crore.

A new Citizen Participation mobile application will allow residents to provide feedback on rural development schemes, and a Panchayat Development Index will be launched to evaluate the performance of village panchayats. The department will also restore 7,500 km of inlet and irrigation channels and build new check dams and dykes.

For remote villages, ₹300 crore has been allocated to provide basic amenities in 3,000 habitations. Additionally, a detailed project worth ₹3.17 crore has been prepared for the economic empowerment of transpersons, Mr. Anand added.

These announcements come as Tamil Nadu seeks to strengthen its water security and rural infrastructure, with a focus on sustainable practices and participatory governance.