2 days ago
₹130-Crore Wellington Reservoir Revamp Targets Century-Old Bund Failures
Wellington Reservoir is a large water storage place that helps farmers grow crops.
Its earth wall, called a bund, has weakened and developed breaches several times.
Earlier repairs helped temporarily, but the problem returned during later monsoons.
A new ₹130-crore project began after it was sanctioned in January 2026.
Workers are focusing on the most vulnerable part of the bund.
They are building a deep concrete wall and putting liquid concrete into the soil to stop water from leaking through.
They are also widening sluice gates so more water can be released safely.
Farmers hope the new work will last, but its strength will only be known after heavy rainfall fills the reservoir.
The 100-year-old Wellington Reservoir near Keelcheruvai is undergoing a ₹130-crore rehabilitation project.
The work targets a vulnerable 650-metre bund stretch between the 1,200-metre and 1,850-metre points.
The reservoir has previously suffered subsidence and breaches despite several repair projects since 1996.
A concrete wall, soil grouting and bund strengthening are being used to reduce seepage and future subsidence.
Sluice gates and discharge channels are also being upgraded to support irrigation and higher water releases.
- Who
- The Water Resources Department is carrying out the work, with monitoring by Assistant Engineer Venkatesan; the project is intended to benefit farmers dependent on the reservoir.
- What
- A ₹130-crore rehabilitation and strengthening project is being implemented to address recurring bund subsidence and breaches and upgrade water-release infrastructure.
- Where
- Wellington Reservoir is near Keelcheruvai in Tittakudi, Cuddalore district.
- When
- The project was sanctioned in January 2026, and work has commenced.
- Why
- The reservoir's bund has repeatedly weakened and breached, threatening reliable irrigation and requiring a longer-term engineering solution.
Engineering Assessment
Farmers' Concerns
Whether the project can provide a permanent solution
Engineering Assessment
The Water Resources Department says the project is based on technical assessments and expert recommendations. It includes a concrete wall, liquid-concrete injection through five soil layers and broader bund strengthening intended to provide long-term stability.
Farmers' Concerns
The Vellar Basin Farmers Association says earlier repair allocations did not solve the recurring problem and remains concerned that the latest work may not withstand heavy monsoon inflows.
Confidence in future irrigation
Engineering Assessment
The department says the strengthened reservoir and upgraded release infrastructure will allow farmers to depend on Wellington Reservoir irrigation for cultivation.
Farmers' Concerns
Farmers say the work must first be completed and tested when heavy rainfall causes the reservoir to reach full storage before its strength can be judged.
Key facts
- Reservoir age
- About 100 years
- Project cost
- ₹130 crore
- Catchment area
- 16.60 square kilometres
- Bund length
- 4,300 metres
- Storage capacity
- 2,580 million cubic feet
- Irrigation coverage
- Around 26,000 acres
- Targeted bund section
- From the 1,200-metre point to the 1,850-metre point
Quotes
Somasundaram
President of the Vellar Basin Farmers Association
“There is apprehension over whether the present work will provide a permanent solution. This time, new technology is being used. Only after the work is completed and the reservoir receives heavy rainfall and reaches full storage can the strength of the bund be assessed.”
deccanchronicle.com
“With these works, the reservoir is being strengthened to provide protection for the next 100 years. Farmers can therefore confidently depend on Wellington Reservoir irrigation for cultivation.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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