Tourist infrastructure at Ponnaniyar Dam likely to be spruced up

Minister for Tourism S.Rajesh Kumar inspecting the tourist amenities at the Ponnaniyar Dam in Karur district on Tuesday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Tourism infrastructure at the scenic Ponnaniyar Dam in the hilly Kadavur region of Karur district is expected to be refurbished soon with Minister for Tourism S. Rajesh Kumar inspecting the dam on Tuesday for a review of the facilities available there.Set in sylvan surroundings, about 66 km from Tiruchi, the dam is nestled between Perumal Malai and Semmalai. While the dam and its catchment area are located in Karur district, the ayacut area of the dam is spread over Mugavanur panchayat and neighbouring villages in Tiruchi district. The dam has 2,100 acres, mostly dry land.Pleasure boating service was reintroduced at the dam in October 2025 after the necessary infrastructure, including the boat jetty and a restaurant, was esablished at a cost of ₹2.05 crore.Accompanied by Karur Member of Parliament S. Jothimani, District Collector S. Prasanna Ramasamy and other officials, Mr. Rajesh Kumar reviewed the facilities at the dam and the scope for attracting more tourists to the spot.A proposal for renovating the park at the spot, at an estimated cost of ₹3.36 crore, had already been submitted to the government, he said.The dam, under the control of the Ariyar Division of the Water Resources Department, was built in 1974. Rainwater flow from the Kadavur region is the main source of water for the dam. The catchment area is spread over 33.60 square miles. The dam stands 51 metres tall with a storage capacity of 120 million cubic feet (mcft).Temple renovationEarlier, Mr. Rajesh Kumar inspected the progress of renovation work at Sri Agatheeswarar Swamy Temple at Thirumukkudalur. The 1,000-year-old temple is being renovated at a cost of ₹5 crore.The Minister discussed with officials a proposal to establish a boat jetty and a park at Thirumukkudalur, according to a press release from the district administration. Published - November 10, 2026 06:16 pm IST