WRD to complete flood-mitigation work along the river banks in city soon

The Water Resources Department (WRD) will soon complete flood-mitigation work taken up on two vulnerable stretches along the Cauvery and Kollidam banks in Srirangam in the city.

Sanctioned at an estimated cost of about ₹11.54 crore, the works are being executed by the department at two vital stretches on the Cauvery at Moolathoppu and on the Kollidam near Alagiripuram, both of which suffered damages during heavy flood discharges in the rivers in 2024.

In August 2024, a 30-metre long portion of a bed protection wall built across the river to check sand erosion around the pile foundation of the bridge built across the Kollidam was washed away during heavy flow in the river.

Gabion walls

The flood-mitigation project involves construction of a gabion walls at both the vulnerable stretches on the rivers at Moolathoppu and Alagiripuram, besides the Kollidam riverbed for about 140 metres.

Gabion walls are large cage/box-like structures filled with rocks held together by wire mesh that helps prevent erosion and retain a slope. A few years ago, the WRD had built gabion grade walls at vulnerable stretches of the Kollidam at Anbil and Kariyamanickam near Tiruchi to strengthen the bund which had repeatedly suffered erosions during heavy discharges in recent years. Stacked with granite stones, the wall offers long-term protection to the river bank from being damaged during peak discharges in the river.

Construction of the gabion walls along the Cauvery’s left bank at Moolathoppu is a major component of the project being executed as any damage here could affect the island town of Srirangam severely. The gabion wall for about 160 metres to strengthen the river bank has already been completed, department sources said.

The Kollidam is essentially a flood carrier and the gabion wall being built on the river is meant to keep the water flow away from the right bank at Alagiripuram. The river bank has been strengthened with side protection walls for about 75 metres. The works would be completed within a week or so, department sources said.