Traffic on Theni-Kumuli highway will be restored in a day: O Panneerselvam

After inspecting the damages, he told reporters that rainfall occurred along the Western Ghats during the Southwest Monsoon season increased abnormally by 280 per cent, this year.

“Catchment areas received considerable amount of rain, which increased the water level in dams alarmingly. Several cusecs of surplus water following heavy rain were released from the dams and it created flood like situation. However, water level in anaicuts in Tamil Nadu maintained its average and situation is under control,” he said.

As for Mullaperiyar dam, water level stood at 141.7 feet with an inflow of 14,000 cusecs and the same amount was discharged through Idukki shutters to Kerala. Besides, the Vaigai dam has witnessed an inflow of 2,242 cusecs of water from the Mullaperiyar dam. 

To benefit farmers of Thirumangalam, Sholavandan and Melur, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced the release of water from the Vaigai dam, he added. 

It was raining continuously and he said the damaged National Highway at Erachalpalam between Theni and Kumuli would be restored and opened to vehicular traffic in a day.

Responding to a query, he said the Mullaperiyar dam, which touched 142 feet recently, was strong and safe as said by a Supreme Court committee that inspected the dam site twenty-five days ago and hence there’s no need to fear. 

Further, the Deputy Chief Minister said relief materials including 4.5 tonnes of vegetables and six tonnes of other essential items such medicines, blankets, bedsheets, rice, dhal, dresses, biscuits, oil and ready-mix powders had so far been dispatched from Theni district. The party cadre had been working to dispatch such material to the flood victims on Sunday from Theni, he said.

Collector M Pallavi Baldev, Theni MP R Parthiban, Cumbum MLA STK Jakkaiyan, District Revenue Officer S Kandasamy, NHAI Project Director Muthu Udayar and others were present.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday ordered release of water from Vaigai dam for irrigation. In a statement, Chief Minister said that 1,130 cusecs of water would be released for 120 days but however the total water discharge will not be higher than 8,461 million cubic feet. As much as 85,563 acres of farm land in Periyar canal and 19,439 acres of land in Thirumangalam main canal would be benefitted due to the water release. “The water release will benefit 1.05 lakh acres of farm lands in Madurai, Dindigul and Sivaganga districts,” said Palaniswami.