Madurai

The Manimuthar dam, near the Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, is one of the lifelines of farmers of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts and provides water in the lean period. The location of
the dam is in such a manner that it would receive more water in northeast monsoon than in southwest monsoon, which is not the case in other dams in the district.

In the past two years the dam got completely filled up in the northwest monsoon, and owing to the downpour the dam was opened on December 10 last, much to the delight of farmers.

A leakage was noticed in the dam sometime back and as the water level was full in the dam for the past two years the restoration work could not be carried out.

But now after the water level has decreased and water has been opened for Perungal cultivation, the officials planned to commence the restoration work. An official attached to Public Works Department at Tirunelveli claimed that the work was being carried out at a cost of Rs 5 crore funded by the World Bank.

Two and a half kilometres of walls would be covered under the restoration work, and even the 14 shutters at the dam would be repaired. A road for four kilometres would be laid and the water ways in the initial stages would also be repaired, the official claimed.