Once completed, the anicut would improve irrigation, support drinking water needs, and recharge groundwater in parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The stretch of the Cheyyar river in Kancheepuram district is set to get its third storage structure this month. Though the district received near-normal northeast monsoon rainfall, localities near the river report a better groundwater table as water flow persists near the upcoming Silambakkam anicut.
The work to build the ₹35.21 crore structure in Uthiramerur taluk is in the final stages of completion and revetment work and desilting of supply channels are being carried out by the Water Resources Department (WRD). Once completed, it would improve irrigation, support drinking water needs and recharge groundwater in parts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts.
The new anicut is being constructed between Uthiramerur anicut and Vengacheri anicut at the 171st km of Cheyyar river in Kancheepuram. The 475-metre-long structure with a height of 1.5 metres would help irrigate an ayacut of nearly 1,623.54 acre in villages, including Magaral, Silambakkam, Oghukarai, and Vengaram in Kancheepuram and Arasanipalai, Punnai, and Pudupalayam in Tiruvannamalai district.
The Cheyyar river is a major tributary of Palar river that originates in Jawadhu Hills, Tiruvannamalai district and merges with Palar at Thirumukoodal.
Officials of the WRD said the structure, which would divert water for irrigation, would feed Vayalathur river channel and tanks like Magaral and Arasanipalai. It is one of the five anicuts which was proposed to be built in the State in 2022, and for which work began in June 2023.
“The work was delayed for two years due to continuous flow in the river, and the existing anicuts recorded surplus flows last year too. Groundwater around the new structure has improved and is available at a depth of 10 feet. The water stored and diverted through the structure will also recharge 132 wells in the neighbourhood,” said an official.
Residents of Uthiramerur taluk said the river was a significant source for irrigation and drinking facilities. Uthiramerur and Madurantakam tanks that have good storage aided groundwater recharge.
V.K. Perumal of Vedapalayam, said many farmers cultivated mainly paddy and horticulture crops. “Water is available at a depth of 10-15 feet in areas close to the river and tanks, though monsoon rainfall was lower. I am able to irrigate my fields more frequently. But villages to the west of Uthiramerur tank and some taluks face the risk of shortage as many water bodies have lower storage.”
Farmers in villages like Kaliyampoondi said supply channels to tanks in villages like Perunagar must be desilted to carry Cheyyar water to more villages. They also sought new storage structures at Venkudi and Vishar villages across the Palar in Kancheepuram district.
Officials said though the district received only normal monsoon rainfall, the Cheyyar and Palar rivers, which aid drinking water requirements in Chennai’s periphery, retained flow for nearly three months due to good rainfall upstream. The new anicut, located in an overexploited groundwater zone, is expected to feed supply channels and tanks even during lean periods.
Published – February 03, 2026 09:19 pm IST
