Heavy rain causes breach in Ambur waterbodies

Vellore

Tirupattur Collector MP Sivan Arul on Tuesday has asked for a report on damages to the water holding structures, farm lands and crops resulting due to breach of an irrigation tank and check dam and blocked river water inundating farm lands in the affected areas.

The damage was due to Ambur and Vaniyambadi receiving 72.5 mm and 47 mm rain on Monday night, “resulting in water bodies in both locations storing enough water for agricultural operations,” Sivan Arul said.

The damage was more in Ambur region where a jungle stream near Pasanapalli village adjacent to Arungal Durgam village located on the Tamil Nadu – Andhra Pradesh border, was blocked by debris resulting in water entering and inundating crops in about 10 acres. Sources revealed that coconut, groundnut and corn raised in the area were affected.

Similarly, near Ponnapalli village, the local irrigation tank breached and a two-decade old check dam was damaged which led to inundation of around 5 acres. No crops were damaged in this area, sources revealed.

Near Vaniyambadi, the Pillur dam built by Andhra Pradesh across the Palar river was brimming due to good inflows received from tributaries from the surrounding hills. Though rain stopped, water continued flowing from a spring locally named Nandi Sunai.

Collector Sivan Arul said crop damage would not be much as sowing was yet to start in anticipation of the southwest monsoon in most areas in the district. However, the rain had ensured enough storage to make the farmers happy. However, Palar river, the lifeline for Vellore district which flows into Tamil Nadu from Andhra Pradesh through Vaniyambadi and Ambur was yet to see any inflow. The Mannaaru near Vaniyambadi only realised mild surface flow, according to a farmer Palar AC Venketesan.

The rain affected sites were inspected by local revenue officials on Tuesday, who were accompanied by Ambur MLA AC Vilvanathan.