In Tittakudi taluk,the rehabilitation of the century-old Wellington reservoir is progressing rapidly,with over 60% of the work already completed . This initiative,which aims to strengthen the reservoir's bunds,improve its main canal, and reconstruct the surplus regulator,is being undertaken at a substantial cost of ₹130 crore.
Constructed in 1923,the Wellington reservoir is a vital water pproximately 24,059 acres, across 63 villages in Thittakudi and Vriddhachalam taluks. reservoir primarily stores floodwaters from the Vellar River,making it essential for local agriculture.
However, the reservoir has faced persistent challenges over the years. Official sources indicate that bund has suffered from recurring erosion due to subsurface conditions and soil characteristics . In 1996,a significant erosion incident prompted repairs costing ₹5 crore,funded with assistance from the World Bank,following recommendations from a dam-safety committee.
Despite these efforts, the bund continued to erode each monsoon season. A 2008 inspection by the Water Resources Department (WRD) led to detailed report highlighting the need for further action. Consequently,the bund was rebuilt in 2010 at a cost of ₹29.71 crore as an immediate response to the ongoing issues.
The main canal of the reservoir has also been affected,suffering damage to its banks, particularly during heavy rains. The inward collapse of side slopes and rapid vegetation growth have obstructed water flow, leading to breaches that flooded nearby farmlands and damaged crops. This disruption has hindered the delivery of irrigation water to tail-end areas, impacting farmers reliant on reservoir for their livelihoods.
In light of these ongoing problems,the WRD proposed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. Assistant Engineer of WRD (Vellar Basin) noted that a temporary earthen embankment was constructed in 2017 at cost of ₹1.78 crore to address new distress observed on the bund . However,the underlying factors contributing to erosion remained,prompting the decision to undertake a full-scale strengthening and rebuilding project.
The current rehabilitation work employs innovative technology, including the construction of a concrete wall extending 11 feet deep to mitigate water seepage. The bund is being reinforced to a height of 11 metres,enhancing its capacity to manage floodwaters effectively. Additionally, the existing surplus gates,originally three metres wide, are being widened to eight metres to facilitate water release rate of 32,000 cubic feet per second.
To further ensure the dam's safety for the next century,a 900-metre-long concrete wall is being constructed along the water drainage channels. This extensive rehabilitation effort is expected to be completed within the next three months, significantly improving the reservoir's functionality and reliability for the surrounding agricultural communities.
