The State government has sanctioned works, estimated to cost around Rs.11.49 crore, for the artificial recharge of groundwater. They cover the formation of subsurface dykes, percolation ponds, check dams and recharge shafts/ tube wells. A release on Tuesday stated that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had approved the proposals. In Thanjavur district, the establishment of 100 recharge shafts in the catchment of system tanks in 41 villages of the Pattukottai taluk will cost approximately Rs.2.05 crore; similar structures in Thanjavur and Papanasam taluks – Rs. 63.13 lakh and in Valangaiman and Mannargudi taluks of Tiruvarur district – Rs.1.55 crore. For tubewells in Krishnagiri taluk of Krishnagiri district and Harur taluk of Dharmapuri district, Rs.3.15 lakh and Rs.4.2 lakh have been set apart. In Tiruvannamalai district, sub-surface dykes across Cheyyar will come up in two clusters – one in the taluks of Polur and Chengam at a cost of about Rs.3.07 crore; another in Korrukkathur village, Cheyyar taluk (cost: Rs.2.20 crore). One more sub-surface dyke will be built on the Ponnaiyar in Kollapalli village of Katpadi taluk in Vellore district at a cost of about Rs.1.9 crore.