Kambarasampettai turns a picnic spot

TRICHY: With few recreation spots available in and around the city, people are flocking to the Cauvery banks with their families as the summer vacation has begun.

Kambarasampettai, the first check dam across the Cauvery that flows from Mettur to Nagapattinam has turned a weekend picnic spot. The shallow water is a delight for children.

Kallannai, another dam across the Cauvery and the Mukkombu dam too are recreation spots for vacationers.

“This check dam with platforms is also comparatively safe to bathe,” says R Kannan, a local at Kambarasanpettai. He says the number of people coming to the check dam has increased during evening hours in the past few days.

Taking dip in the Cauvery is heavenly, especially after 4 pm, says R Nelson, a marketing executive from Jeeyapuram and one can enjoy the sun set while staying in the water.

“Except for Ibrahim Park and Kambarasmpettai, there is hardly any place for recreational activity in the city,” said Parvathi, who came along with her family to the check dam. While the administration has been promising an eco park and other infrastructure there, nothing has materialised so far, she said.

“Constructed at a cost of Rs 32 crores, the Kambarasanpettai check dam was completed in a span of over two and half years after starting the work in 2011,” said a senior official from the PWD.

“The dam has a length of 550 metres and is 1.5 metre in height with the three sand vents on both left and right flanks to flush out the excess sand that gets deposited as silt,” added the official.