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The Hindu
05-06-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
State Highways to construct new bridge across Then Pennar river in Tiruvannamalai
The State Highways Department is planning to construct a new high-level bridge across the Then Pennar river between Agarampallipattu and Thondamanur village near Thandrampattu town in Tiruvannamalai as a replacement to the collapsed bridge there, as residents have been pressing for their demand of easy connectivity to reach nearby towns. The proposal of the Highways Department comes after the newly-opened ₹15.9-crore bridge across the river collapsed when excess rainwater of over two lakh cusecs was released from Sathanur dam, located 24 km from the village upstream, following heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Fengal in December. 'Ever since the bridge collapsed, we had had to trek at least 20 km to reach nearby towns like Thandrampattu and from then, it has been a long-standing demand of the residents of at least 8-10 villages,' D. Pulivendan, president, Thondamanur village panchayat, said. The bridge that collapsed was inaugurated by Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports E.V. Velu, on September 2, 2024. 'Technical design and estimated cost for the proposed bridge across the river is ready. Work on the new bridge will commence in the coming months,' a State Highways official told The Hindu. According to Highways officials, the project to construct the proposed bridge would be executed by the Construction and Maintenance wing of the Department, led by P. Gnanavel, Divisional Engineer (DE), State Highways (Tiruvannamalai), with funds sanctioned under the NABARD scheme. As per plan, the proposed high-level bridge will be 250 metre long and 12 metre wide. The height of the new bridge will be at least 12 metres — five metres higher than the collapsed bridge. Officials said that an increase in height, especially the decks of the bridge, would help the structure to withstand huge influx of excess rainwater released in the river during heavy rainfall. The rise in height of the new structure was decided based on a study of massive floods that happened over the past 100 years, officials said. Another key change is that the proposed bridge would be built away from the collapsed structure. Highways officials attribute change of river course to be the reason for moving away from the earlier location of the bridge. 'The new plan is to build the bridge at least 200 metre away from the collapsed bridge as the river course is much more straight now. The study found that the curved portion of the river could have been the reason for the structural instability of the earlier bridge that collapsed,' said an official. Highway officials said that the proposal for the new bridge has been sent to the State government for financial clearance as technical study for the project has been completed. The project will be announced by the State government in the coming weeks before tenders were floated for the new bridge.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Thenpennai bridge washed away in December 2024 floods not designed per norms: Arappor Iyakkam
CHENNAI: The Rs 15.9-crore bridge built across Thenpennai river, connecting Agarampallipattu and Thondamanur villages in Tiruvannamalai district, which was inaugurated last September and washed away in the unprecedented floods in December during Cyclone Fengal, was not constructed as per the design standards recommended by the Indian Road Congress for high-level bridges. Soon after the bridge's collapse, the highways department had said that the bridge was designed to withstand flood levels up to 54,000 cusecs and on the day of the collapse (December 3), the water flow in the river was triple the level at 1.68 lakh cusecs. However, documents released on Wednesday by NGO Arappor Iyakkam showed that the maximum water discharge recorded in the last 100 years was not taken into consideration, as recommended by the IRC. It said that this is despite the Public Works Department communicating to the state highways before the finalisation of the contract for the bridge that a maximum discharge of 2.8 lakh cusecs was recorded in the river near the proposed site in 1972, which is 40 % lesser than the discharge witnessed during the floods in December.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Virugambakkam canal choked with waste
Chennai: Although the past five months were an ideal period to restore and deepen canals, while strengthening boundary walls, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) did little to restore the Virugambakkam Canal, vital for draining storm water from several central neighbourhoods. GCC took possession of the canal from the water resources department earlier this year. This 6.5km-long canal, originating in Nerkundram, is clogged with silt and garbage, triggering fears of flooding, especially near Panimalar Engineering College at Aminjikarai, near the outfall point. Traversing through Virugambakkam, Arumbakkam, Aminjikarai, and ending at Cooum River next to Nelson Manickam Road, the canal is meant to prevent flooding of at least 18,000 houses in the neighbourhoods. However, over the past year, its flow drastically weakened due to heavy silt deposits, illegal dumping, and structural bottlenecks. Near its outfall point from the Nelson Manickam Road bridge, TOI spotted heaps of plastic and solid waste dumped and levelled. There's food scrap, liquor bottles, and even cardboard items narrowing the canal. GCC has not plugged sewage in any of the stormwater drain outfalls too. "Even short spells of rain lead to stagnation for hours, coupled with mosquito infestation," said K Vineeth, a resident. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo "The canal overflowed during Cyclone Fengal, when 10cm of rainfall caused flooding in Nungambakkam, Koyambedu, and Aminjikarai. Water stagnated for more than a day," he added. GCC officials, however, said estimates are being prepared to restore the canal. "Of the 24 bridges across the canal, 11 with narrow two-ft-wide vents are set to be demolished and replaced with eight-ft-high culverts to improve flow. These old bridges cut flow from 1,700cusecs to 800, leading to flooding. It will be fixed," said a zonal official from Teynampet. GCC also plans a 2.5km cut-and-cover diversion drain from Aminjikarai to Cooum to ease the load on the canal's outfall. A bathymetric study with IIT-Madras is underway to desilt 35 choke points and restore the canal's original 19-metre width, reduced to five in some spots due to encroachments. Eviction notices have been issued, and the canal depth will be increased by up to five ft. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Rs 60-crore aid recommended for ryots hit by December rain in Tamil Nadu
THOOTHUKUDI: The agriculture department has recommended compensation of Rs 59.20 crore for crops damaged during the December 2024 rains in the district. According to sources, over 68,444.80 hectares of crops and 17,687.07 hectares of horticulture crops were damaged due to the incessant rainfall from December 13 to 16, a fortnight after "Fengal" cyclone crossed the TN coast. The crop damage was surveyed in January this year. According to officials who surveyed the damages, the agriculture crops cultivated in over 68,444.80 hectares had been damaged. It includes 838.29 hectare of paddy, 58,719.04 hectare of pulses, 8,529.24 hectare of minor millets, 106 hectare of oil seed crops, and 196.85 hectare of cotton crops. As per the report, the district administration has recommended Rs 1.45 crore for paddy crops, Rs 50.11 crore for pulses, Rs 7.37 crore for minor millet crops, Rs 9 lakh for oil seed crops, and Rs 17.51 lakh for cotton crops - a total of Rs 59.20 crore as compensation to farmers. According to horticulture officials over 17,687.07 hectares, including 11,438.27 hectares of red chilli, 4,027 hectares of onion, 1,167.64 hectare of coriander and 961 hectares of banana plantations were damaged. The farmers will get compensation of Rs 17,500 per hectare for irrigated crops, and Rs 18,500 per hectare of dry land crops, a senior officer said. Speaking to TNIE, agriculture department Joint Director Periyasamy said the report is under consideration. The state government has to approve it and release the funds. The compensation will be credited directly to the farmers' bank account. The farmers can also apply for insurance relief, the official added.
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Let there be water: Restoration of Koliyanur lake in Tamil Nadu
VILLUPURAM: The dust of decades had settled thick upon the promise of Koliyanur lake, a vital artery choked by neglect and the relentless creep of encroachment. For a generation, its lifeblood had dwindled, a silent tragedy unfolding in the Villupuram district. But from the parched earth, a spark ignited – the Kalaam Volunteer Group. This unassuming collective of residents dared to dream of reviving it, a vision that would not only reshape their environment but also bind their community in the face of nature's fury. Their story, unfolding over the past year, is a testament to the extraordinary power of ordinary people, a beacon of hope that pierced through the devastation of Cyclone Fengal and resurrected a lost lifeline. Koliyanur lake, stretching across hundreds of acres, had been encroached upon by 57 farming families in the Koliyanur village area for more than three decades. Once a crucial source of irrigation and drinking water, the lake had slowly shrunk by half due to unregulated occupation and sediment build-up. Recognising the ecological and communal importance of the loch, the Kalaam Volunteer Group, in collaboration with Exnora International Foundation, NDSO, and M N Gayathri Charities, initiated a restoration project in 2024. 'As a resident of Koliyanur, I've never seen the river with water since I was a child, and it has been a dream to see it flow with water in its natural allure. And that is why I chose to revive it,' said N Manikandan (32), the group's full-time organiser.
