"New Causeway Across Ponnai River Near Katpadi Set to be Completed by January"

The eagerly anticipated causeway spanning the Ponnai River, a significant tributary of the Palar, situated on the Chittoor-Tiruttani High Road near Melpadi village, adjacent to Katpadi town, is on track to be operational by January.

Officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD), responsible for the project's execution, have reported that over 70 percent of the total construction for the causeway has been successfully accomplished. Of the 18 spans consisting of concrete pillars, only one remains to be erected across the dry river. R. Sivasankaran, Assistant Engineer, WRD (Ponnai), explained, "Most of the causeway work has been completed. Remaining works like side walls of the causeway are being stepped up."

In a recent inspection, Minister for Water Resources, Duraimurugan, assessed the ongoing progress alongside key officials, including C.T. Shanmugam, superintending engineer, R. Ramesh, executive engineer, and P. Gopi, assistant executive engineer.

Financed under the Permanent Floods Restoration Scheme for the year 2021–22 and executed by the State Highways Department, the bridge, with an estimated cost of ₹12.94 crore, is designed to be 190 meters in length and 9.60 meters in width. Crucially, it will serve as a vital link for at least 15 villages in the vicinity. The causeway is a long-awaited solution following the destruction of the previous narrow bridge during the severe floods in November 2021. Since then, local residents have had to take a detour of approximately 6 kilometers through Arcot to reach Katpadi and Old Town in Vellore.

Additionally, Minister Duraimurugan examined the progress of a ₹19.46 crore check dam constructed across the Ponnai River. This essential structure had suffered substantial damage during the November 2021 floods, leading to the loss of excess rainwater during the monsoon season. At present, more than 50 percent of the total work has been successfully completed, as per officials.

Constructed in the year 1857, the check dam, measuring 216 meters in length and 0.9 meters in width, features water channels on its eastern, southern, and western sides, covering distances of 51.96 km, 32 km, and 18 km, respectively.

These channels play a pivotal role in irrigating 8,814.96 hectares of land, supporting 10,243 farmers, and discharging excess rainwater into 122 irrigation tanks maintained by WRD in the Vellore and Ranipet districts. Furthermore, approximately 10.20 lakh consumers rely on these channels for domestic water usage, highlighting the critical role they play in the region's infrastructure and agriculture.

THE HINDU