The Tamil Nadu government has announced a major restoration programme for five key dams, with an investment of Rs 510 crore under the Union government’s Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).
The dams selected for renovation include Sathanur in Tiruvannamalai, Kelavarapalli near Hosur, Bhavani Sagar in Erode, Sholayar, and Upper Nirar. The works will focus on repairing leakages, strengthening side walls, replacing old shutters, and rejuvenating catchment areas to boost storage capacity and minimize flood risks for thousands of families living downstream.
Funding for the project will come partly from the World Bank, which will contribute 70 percent, while the remaining 30 percent will be provided by the state government.
Water Resources Department engineer-in-chief S. Gopalakrishnan explained that key interventions include restoring damaged canal walls carrying Bhavani Sagar’s water, replacing mud structures with concrete, and deepening catchments to enhance water storage. He added that although ten dams were proposed under DRIP Phase II, these five were taken up first due to available resources.
An empowered panel, chaired by Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and comprising senior officials and dam safety engineers, has been set up to monitor the initiative. According to a recent government order, inspections will be carried out soon, and the renovation work is expected to begin within a month.
The project also has an environmental focus. At Kelavarapalli Dam, measures will be taken to prevent sewage inflow from Bengaluru, in compliance with a directive from the National Green Tribunal. Meanwhile, the Sathanur dam’s 119-foot catchment will be deepened to improve storage.
Looking ahead, Gopalakrishnan noted that while DRIP Phase III has secured only Rs 66 crore from the World Bank, the state government plans to mobilize Rs 2,000 crore to extend restoration efforts to more dams across Tamil Nadu.