Senior officials from the agricultural engineering department conducted inspections of desilting work on C and D irrigation and drainage channels across delta districts on Wednesday. They urged district-level officials to ensure the work is completed ahead of the opening of the Mettur dam on June 12.
Inspection Details
Chief engineer T Chandrasekar reviewed the progress of work in Tiruvarur district. Superintendent engineers G Amuthan (special schemes), Shanthi Sundar Raman (schemes), and P Ravichandran (land development) inspected work in Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, and Nagapattinam districts, respectively.
Understanding the Channel System
C and D channels are secondary irrigation channels that branch off from primary A and B channels, which distribute Cauvery river water. The agricultural engineering department undertakes desilting of C and D channels annually, while the water resources department handles desilting of A and B channels. The rural development and panchayat raj department manages desilting of E, F, and G channels.
Scope of Work
This year, the agricultural engineering department is desilting approximately 2,375 kilometers of C and D channels at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The objective is to ensure smooth distribution of Cauvery water for the kuruvai and samba paddy cultivation seasons. With less than a month remaining for the opening of the Mettur dam, the Tamil Nadu government has directed all three departments to complete maintenance work at the earliest.
