The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Irukkangudi reservoir project is incomplete

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Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Irukkangudi reservoir project is incomplete

Need for a high-level bridge across water spread area of the dam

— File photo: S. James

Spot study: PWD Minister Duraimurugan during an inspection visit to the Irrukkangudi reservoir in April last year.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: After 15 long years and escalation of project cost nearly three fold, the Irukkangudi reservoir project near Sattur, for which work began in 1992, remains incomplete.

It is more than two years that the dam construction work across the Vaippar river was completed. But water could not be stored as Public Works Department did not construct a high-level bridge over the water spread area of the dam. Without the 250-metre-long bridge, the direct road link between Sattur town and Irukkangudi would be submerged. “Even the huge inflow to the dam in December 2007 had to be drained wastefully fearing public protest,” an official said.

Otherwise, people of 40 villages would have to take a circuitous route of 28 km to reach Sattur, instead of 8 km. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led a protest against the inordinate delay in bridge work in April 2005. DMK’s district secretary and local MLA, K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran, led the traders in the protest.

After a change of guard, the Public Works Department Minister, Duraimurugan, accused the previous regime for the delay as the Government failed to review the work progress periodically. During his visit to the dam in April last year, he promised to complete it by September 2007.

The project cost has shot up to Rs.75 crore from Rs.28.70 crore in 1992. Stating that he had to fight with the Finance Department for additional allocation, the Minister had categorically said that no more additional funds could be given. Because of the incomplete work of around Rs.4 crore, around Rs.70 crore spent so far has not served its purpose to irrigate over 3,700 hectares of dry land in Vilathikulam taluk of Tuticorin district. The dam could not cater to the additional water requirement of Sattur town.

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has proposed to stage a “begging” protest on February 8 to collect funds for the completion of the reservoir.

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