CHENNAI: A check dam would come across Thamiraparani river down Mangadu village in Kanyakumari district at a cost of Rs 18 crore in order to check intrusion of sea water, Chief Minister ‘Edappadi’ K Palaniswami assured the Assembly on Wednesday.
The issue was raised by Congress MLA S Rajesh Kumar, representing Killiyoor, who demanded construction of a check dam across the river as sea water intrudes into the river for a long stretch through the fishing harbour in Thengaipattinam.
Responding, the Chief Minister said, “The government has given consent to construct the check dam at a cost of Rs 18 crore down Mangadu.”
Making a reference to the proposed check dam, DMK member T Mano Thangaraj urged the Chief Minister to instruct officials to identify a suitable place down Mangadu for constructing the check dam so that sea water intrusion could well be controlled.
Proposals were under consideration for raising rubble mound sea (RMS) walls in certain coastal villages falling under Killiyoor constituency.
According to Palaniswami, the proposed RMS walls would come up at Thuthoor at a cost of Rs 166 lakh, Chinnathurai - Rs 198 lakh, Eraviputhanthurai - Rs 309 lakh, Vallavilai - Rs 456 lakh, Melamanakudi - Rs 154 lakh, Mullurthurai - Rs 136.50 lakh, Thengaipattinam - Rs 129 lakh and Vallanthurai - Rs 159 lakh.
Earlier, Rajesh Kumar appealed to the government to take necessary action to protect the coastal villages that bear the brunt of sea erosion and rough sea. He noted that more than 300 houses and roads at two places have been affected by rough sea in his constituency.