The Water Resources Department (WRD) plans to construct 27 check dams across 13 districts in Tamil Nadu at a cost of ₹206.75 crore to manage floodwaters and improve groundwater storage, as announced by Minister N. Anand during the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 19, 2026.
One such dam will be built near Melapalayam village in Karur along the Amaravati river. In Madurai, two bed dams are set to be constructed to reduce riverbank erosion and boost groundwater recharge, costing ₹31.50 crore.
The minister invited MLAs to join monthly meetings with WRD officials to address local issues and find quick solutions. He also mentioned that a decision on releasing water from the Mettur Dam for irrigation will be made soon, while monitoring storage levels closely.
Additionally, 96 projects worth ₹695.42 crore will repair and restore existing water bodies across 30 districts, including Tiruchi. To conserve groundwater, 1,628 artificial recharge structures will be installed in 35 districts at a cost of ₹28.9 crore.
Flood protection walls are being built in 19 districts, with works near Adyar in Chennai costing ₹218.29 crore. Restoration of dams in 11 districts, including Coimbatore and Ramanathapuram, is underway at ₹246.93 crore, along with seawall repairs in north Chennai.
The WRD also plans to assess the impact of existing schemes and develop a mobile app for citizen feedback on rural development projects. A Panchayat Development Index will evaluate village performance.
Under the Rural Development Department, 46 initiatives were announced, including road improvements covering 3,200 km at ₹1,634 crore, creation of 10,000 new ponds in rural areas for irrigation at ₹650 crore, and restoration of 7,500 km of inlet channels.
A ₹300 crore allocation will provide basic amenities to 3,000 remote villages. A project for the economic empowerment of transgender individuals is also in development, costing ₹3.17 crore.