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Canal scheme to be ready by April
BOON TO DRY REGION: PWD Secretary S. Audiseshiah (second from right) inspecting canal work at Usilampatti on Monday.
MADURAI: Farmers of Usilampatti and Nilakottai taluks can take heart — the State Government plans to complete work on the 58-village irrigation canal scheme, going on for nearly 10 years, by April.
After inspecting the work in Usilampatti on Monday, Public Works Department Secretary S. Audiseshiah said that design modification and construction of aqueduct on two stretches on the hilly terrain had delayed the completion. “Land acquisition problem that had slowed down the work was cleared two years back. The work resumed in January this year and is going on at a fast pace. Though we want to complete it by January, it is likely to be completed by April,” he said.
The 27-km flood carrier will make use of surplus water from Vaigai dam to irrigate 2,285 acres of land, mostly in Usilampatti taluk of Madurai district and part of Nilakottai taluk in Dindigul district. Irrigation will be carried out through 29 old tanks and three new tanks.
“Though spending Rs. 78.6 crore for 58 villages was a bit costlier, it was done with an aim of irrigating a dry region. It will also make use of precious water that wastefully drains (into the sea),” Mr. Audiseshiah said. Study of water flow pattern over 50 years from Vaigai dam had revealed that the flood carrier was a reliable scheme, he added. The scheme is expected to help additional annual foodgrain production of 2,865 tonnes.
Madurai Collector P. Seetharaman would conduct periodical review of the progress of the work to ensure its completion by April, Mr. Audiseshiah said.
Mr. Seetharaman, the PWD Superintending Engineer, A. Chandrasekaran, Executive Engineer, V. Srinivasagam, were among those who accompanied him.
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