Cuddalore Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar inspecting the construction of a check dam at Melpattampakkam in Cuddalore district. Photo: Special Arrangement.
The Cuddalore District Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar inspected flood mitigation projects executed by the Water Resources Department (WRD) in Gunduuppalavadi, Kandakadu and Thirupathiripuliyur on Saturday (September 5, 2026) and instructed officials to expedite the work to minimise inundation before the onset of the Northeast monsoon.
The works include construction of check-dams, drainage facilities, sluices to prevent breaches along riverbanks, strengthening of flood-damaged embankments, and flood-protection walls.
He inspected the ₹57 crore work to strengthen the banks of the Thenpennaiar River as a permanent flood-control measure in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding during the northeast monsoon. The work includes strengthening of the riverbanks for 2,900 metres and construction of a 1,270 metre retaining wall.
Once completed, the works are expected to protect agricultural land and residential areas in six villages and 27 wards in Cuddalore Corporation from flooding. The Collector also inspected the ₹14.50 crore work on the construction of a flood-protection wall from Kumarappan Nagar to the District Collectorate to a distance of 1,350 metres.
About 95 % of the work has been completed. Upon completion, the work is expected to protect residential areas and agricultural land from flooding. He also inspected the construction of a check dam and a flood-protection wall at Melpattampakkam in Panruti at ₹63 crore.
The project, upon completion, will help recharge groundwater and benefit 131 borewells in Melpattampakkam, Viswanathapuram, Vanapakkam, Sornavur Melpathi, Perichapakkam and Kalinjikuppam villages. It will also help irrigate 2,410.12 hectares of agricultural land.
Mr. Senthil Kumar also inspected flood-protection works at Pagandai and Thirupathiripuliyur at a cost of ₹45 crore.
Published – September 06, 2026 02:44 pm IST
