Rejuvenation of Saduperi irrigation tank near Vellore on fast track

The Hindu

a day ago

Work to build man-made islands for local migratory birds, a boating facility, and a tiled walking track for visitors at Saduperi irrigation tank near Vellore Corporation limits on Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH-48) is on fast track with the deepening of the waterbody nearing completion.
Minister Duraimurugan inspected the ongoing work, which was started in March by the Water Resources Department (WRD) that maintains the tanks, and urged officials to expedite the remaining works. 'The perennial tank helps to recharge the groundwater covering at least 8-10 villages in its surroundings. Most of these areas are farming villages,' E. Amrish, Assistant Engineer (AE), WRD (Vellore Anaicut), told The Hindu.
Spread over 250 hectares, the tank, on average, can store 205 mcft (million cubic feet) of water. Under the Rehabilitation and Restoration of Twin Lakes scheme, the WRD took up the rejuvenation work at a cost of ₹19 crore.
As part of it, Saduperi is being desilted to the original depth of 6.5 metres. The tank will be deepened to store additional rainwater during the monsoon. A tiled walkers' path is also being laid on the bund of the tank to a distance of 1.5 km. Hand failings are also fitted to prevent walkers, especially children, from falling into the tank. Steel seating arrangements will also be built on the walking track with adequate lighting facilities.
Two man-made islands are being created at the centre of the tank to attract tourists. Native tree species will be planted on the islands. Saplings will be procured free of cost from the Department of Horticulture and farmers. It will draw a large number of local migratory birds to the tank. Boating facilities will also be constructed.
WRD officials said that the southern end of the tank has a lot of human settlements. Most of the garbage was dumped in the tank, resulting in pollution. To prevent such illegal dumping, a two-metre-high steel fence will be erected around the tank to a distance of 1,700 metres.
As part of efforts to ease access to the tank, WRD will lay a bitumen approach road for around two km to connect the tank with the Corporation areas like Thorapadi and Konavattam. It will reduce a detour of at least 8-10 km. The new stretch will also help WRD officials to inspect the waterbody during monsoon easily.
At present, more than 15,000 residents in at least eight surrounding villages depend on the tank for water consumption. Borewells were laid around the bund of the tank by local bodies to meet the water needs of its residents. Of the 519 tanks in Vellore, 101 tanks are maintained by the WRD, including 16 tanks in Vellore taluk alone.