Karkala: State’s first automatic vented dam will be constructed at Surimannu of Shivapura in Karkala at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 cr.

The ‘bhoomipooja’ for the same will be held on April 10 at 4 pm, said MLA and Chief Whip of Opposition in State Assembly V Sunil Kumar.

Addressing a news conference on Wednesday, he said that the automated vented dam comes as an answer to the existing problems pertaining to the normal vented dams, where manpower is required to block and open the vents as and when required.

A company from Nagpur will take up the work on automated vented dam, he said adding that the company has been asked to complete the work within six months of laying the foundation.

The dam will be 37 mts long and 3.20 mts high. Once the water collected in the dam reaches 3 mts level, the vents open up automatically, reducing the dependence on labourers. The new dam will irrigate over 25 acre of cultivable land and since about 3 mts of water will stored in the dam, this will also help in rejuvenating the underground water table.