Officials step up vigil as 1.72L cusecs flow down Mukkombu

TIRUCHY: Monitoring officials of the respective districts across the Delta region have been camping to watch the situation as water release from Upper Anicut (Mukkombu) was increased gradually up to 1.72 lakh cusecs in Cauvery and Kollidam. People residing at the vulnerable spots have been shifted to safer places on Wednesday.

According to official sources, the inflow into the Upper Anicut on Wednesday 6 pm was 1.72 lakh cusecs. The heavy inflow was discharged as received. Accordingly, 60,000 cusecs were released into the Cauvery and 1.12 lakh cusecs into the Kollidam.

As heavy flow has been witnessed in both the Kollidam and the Cauvery, PWD Principal Secretary and Monitoring officer for Tirurchy district Dr K Manivasan, who arrived here convened a meeting with the officials at the Collectorate. He also visited the Upper Anicut along with Tiruchy Collector M Pradeep Kumar and inspected the inflow and outflow of water at Mukkombu. He asked the officials to be alert while diverting water into the Cauvery and the Kollidam.

Manivasan, who visited the Water Resources Department in Tiruchy were the sandbags are readied for flood prevention, asked the officials to ensure flood prevention activities in the previous spots like Moolathoopu where the water entered into the residential areas during earlier release. Meanwhile, the principal secretary asked the district administration to give flood alerts at regular intervals and evacuate people who have been residing close to the rivers.

Similarly, in Mayiladuthurai district, V Amudavalli, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Director and monitoring officer for the district visited the vulnerable spots along the Kollidam. She visited the Alakudi panchayat where there was a breach earlier and asked the officials to strengthen the banks of the river and asked the people not to go near the river.

She also visited the relief camp established at Achalpuram PU primary school and tasted the food served there. She also interacted with the people staying in the camp.

Monitoring officer for Tiruchy Dr K Manivasan inspecting flood prevention preparations at Moolathoppu in Srirangam on Wednesday

Flood alert issued along Vaigai river

Flood warning was issued on Wednesday for people living on the banks of Vaigai River as the water level in the Vaigai dam, which has a maximum capacity of 71 feet, stood at 70 ft at 11.30 am. Subsequently, excess water of 4,006 cusecs was being discharged from the dam through Vaigai River, which flows through Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts.

Torrential rains along Western Ghats and catchment areas of Theni and other parts of the district since Tuesday gave rise to the water level in Vaigai dam, sources said.

According to P Murugesan, Assistant Executive Officer, PWD, Vaigai dam, the discharge of surplus water rose to 4,300 cusecs at 1 pm and later at 3 pm, it has increased further to 4,800 cusecs.

Further, sources said the downpour also led to increase in water level in Sothuparai dam (126.28 ft) near Periyakulam and 97 cusecs of surplus water is being discharged from the dam. Moreover, heavy rains triggered floods in Kumbakkarai water falls under Devadanapatti Forest Range and as a result, tourists were restricted from bathing, sources said.