Three more check dams proposed across Cooum

Recent surge in the water flow filled up most tanks in Tiruvallur district

With the Cooum, which has been in full flow in the unpolluted portion this monsoon, filling up most of the tanks in Tiruvallur district, the Water Resources Department has drawn up plans to build more check dams.

Abundant rain in November helped sustain flow in the Cooum. The river continues to get inflow from the Kosasthalaiyar and Kesavaram check dam upstream despite the rainfall receding in the last few days. Water from the Poondi reservoir is being diverted into the Cooum.

Officials said the check dam at Pudhumavilangai, which is located 12 km downstream of Kesavaram, has improved storage in four tanks at Agaram, Kadambathur, Kasavanallathur and Egattur. Besides storing about eight million cubic feet (mcft) of water in the check dam, floodwater is diverted to the tanks.