Anicut across Maruthaiyar planned

PERAMBALUR: A new anicut across the Maruthaiyar in the district has been proposed by the Plan Formulation Division of the Public Works Department at a cost of about Rs.9.27 crore.

The anicut is planned to be built across the river at Nochikulam in Kunnam taluk in the district. It would help harness about 1,597 million cubic feet of surplus water flow in the river during the monsoon to stabilise irrigation for about 2,700 acres. New supply channels would be built for a distance of about 21.32 km leading up to the Vettakudi-Karaivetti tank, which is also a bird sanctuary.

Once completed, the anicut would help achieve an additional foodgrain production of 4,399 tonne a year, M.Paneerselvam, Executive Engineer, PWD Plan Formulation Division, Tiruchi, told The Hindu. Mr.Paneerselvam said Collector M.Vijayakumar had evinced keen interest in the project and a proposal would be forwarded to the government shortly for approval.

Two other projects, construction of a grade wall across the Vellar and another anicut across the Oothangal Odai, have also been planned in the district. Mr.Paneerselvam said the grade wall across Vellar was planned in Kunnam taluk to feed Athiyur and three other tanks. Irrigation would be stabilised for about 1,200 acres of ayacut area through the project, estimated to cost around Rs.2.05 crore. The anicut across the Uthangal Odai is planned at an estimated cost of Rs.46 lakh and would help stabilise irrigation in the ayacut areas of the Appavu Padaiyachi and Zameen Athur Big Tank. Proposals for the two projects would also be forwarded to the government soon for administrative sanction.

Source:Hindu,29-7-2010