Minister Duraimurugan Inaugurates ₹24.82 Crore Palar Dyke Near Katpadi

Fast Summary

• Inauguration: Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan inaugurated a ₹24.82 crore dyke across Palar river at Arumparuthi village near Katpadi, Vellore, on Wednesday.
• Project Details: The dyke is 720 meters long, 85 meters wide, and eight meters deep; constructed under the National Agriculture Development Scheme by the Water Resources department.
• Purpose: Designed to store excess rainwater and recharge groundwater in areas with depleted levels. It aims to irrigate around 20,000 hectares of farmland across at least 30 villages.
• Impact on Agriculture: Farmers can reportedly cultivate three seasons per year due to improved irrigation capacity; paddy is a chief crop in the area due to less water dependence.
• Additional Facilities:

– Five additional dykes being constructed across Palar river and tributary Malataru in Vellore district (Shenbakkam, Kugaiyanallore, Masigam) and Ranipet district (Thiruparkadal).
– The Thiruparkadal facility will be longest (1,345 m), while Masigam’s dyke is shortest (220 m).

• Groundwater Recharge Radius: Each dyke provides groundwater recharge for a radius of up to three kilometers and supports over two hundred farm wells.
• Domestic Usage Impact: Civic bodies like Vellore Corporation will benefit from improved borewell water levels for domestic consumption.

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