CM Stalin lays foundation for small dam across Koilmalaiyar river in Vellore

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday virtually laid the foundation stone to build a small dam across Koilmalaiyar river, a tributary of Palar river, at a cost of ₹176.20 crore, in Melarasanpattu village on the foothills of Jawadhu Hills in Vellore.

Officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) said that the project was a long-standing demand of farmers and residents in the region. It is the first one that has been undertaken by WRD since the opening of Mordhana Dam across Koundinya River, a tributary of the Palar, in Gudiyatham town in 2001.

The new dam will help to prevent inundation in farming villages at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills. “ The restoration will help to save excess rainwater from the hills for farming and domestic consumption. Farmers will get water for irrigation on time due to the new dam,” said S. Vembu, a farmer.

WRD officials said that the new dam will be built between Melarasanpattu and Karuthamalai reserve forests (RF) near Amirthi Zoological Park. The total storage capacity of the reservoir will be 74.438 mcft of water. The dam can reach its full capacity at least twice a year. “The new dam will be a lifeline for farmers in the foothills of Jawadhu for cultivation and consumption. The entire work will be completed in three years,” V.S. Chitharani, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), WRD (Vellore), told The Hindu.

As per norms, the new dam has been classified as a small dam in terms of the total height of the facility. Small dams were built to a height of below five metres; moderate dams are between five metres and 15 metres in height, and large dams are built above 15 metres. The size of the dam also signifies the total volume of water that could be stored.

Funded under State Fund 2026, the new small dam will be 310 metres in length and five metres in width. On an average, the new dam can release a maximum of 19,912 cusecs of water per second. The new facility will also help to channel excess water into five irrigation tanks. Farmers in 14 villages will benefit from the new facility, which will also help to cultivate 1,685 acres of farmland and recharge groundwater in 684 acres in its vicinity.

WRD officials said that Bheeman falls in Veerapanur Reserve Forest atop Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai remains a key water source for Koilmalaiyar River. The river flows through forests and plains before joining Palar River, around 30 kms away from the new small dam area. In other words, WRD officials said water stored in the new dam can benefit residents within a 30 kms radius.