2 weeks ago
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The Water Resources Department (WRD) is optimistic astir completing the renovation of the Kalingarayan Canal successful clip for the scheduled merchandise of h2o connected June 16.
The 91.10-km canal, built by Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan successful the 13th century, irrigates 15,743 acres crossed 3 taluks successful the territory and supports cultivation of turmeric, banana, sugarcane and different crops for astir 10 months successful a year. However, indiscriminate merchandise of sewage and dumping of household discarded person severely polluted ample stretches of the canal.
A abstracted babe canal, constructed 11 years agone betwixt Bhavani and Vairapalayam, failed to code the pollution. Subsequently, it was decided to widen the babe canal and undertake improvement works on further stretches of the main canal, pursuing which the WRD submitted a connection to the government.
An bid was issued connected July 24, 2025, to renovate the canal betwixt mile 12/3/348 and 15/4.5/195. The task includes operation of extortion walls connected some sides for 4.65 km; enactment of a 4.22-km babe canal; reconstruction of 67 sluices, 2 bridges and an aqueduct; operation of 2 underpasses; renewal of an outlet shutter; operation of ‘C’-type unit quarters; and proviso of chain-link fencing for 0.70 km.
After h2o discharge successful the canal was stopped connected April 7, 2026, works began connected April 11. However, intermittent rainfall and the resultant travel of h2o successful the canal affected the works.
Meanwhile, the connection to demolish the existing aqueduct, popularly known arsenic Karai Vaikkal, and conception a caller 1 has been dropped pursuing beardown absorption from farmers, who demanded that the aqueduct beryllium protected and declared a practice structure.
A elder WRD technologist told The Hindu connected the information of anonymity that works relating to the babe canal could not beryllium taken up due to the fact that of rainfall and would beryllium done during the adjacent h2o stoppage season. The technologist said astir 50% of the extortion partition works had been completed and different components of the task were besides being expedited.
While officials are hopeful of completing the works arsenic scheduled, sources said the quality of the task could effect successful a hold of astir 15 days beyond the planned completion date.
