Heavy rains triggered by the depression in Bay of Bengal lashed Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts on Tuesday. However, it helped in the transplantation of samba seedlings in both districts.
Samba paddy has been transplanted in 44,000 hectares so far in Thanjavur district and 40,000 hectares in Tiruvarur district. Direct sowing has been taken up in 4,000 hectares in Thanjavur district and in 60,000 hectares in Tiruvarur district, said agriculture department officials.
Three hundred hectares of harvest ready kuruvai crop in Thanjavaur district and 1,500 hectares of samba crop in Tiruvarur district have been inundated.
While schools remained closed in Tiruvarur district, they functioned in Thanjavur district. With rains forecasted to continue on Wednesday, the district administrations have taken all precautionary measures. "We are in a state of preparedness to face any eventuality due to rain and cyclone," said the Collectors.
Meanwhile Anil Meshram, Director, Department of Agricultural Marketing and Agri-Business, and monitoring officer for Thanjavur district conducted a review meeting with officials on monsoon preparedness.
Rainfall recorded till 8 a.m. on Tuesday: Valangaiman 42.2 mm, Kumbakonam 30 mm, Kodavasal 32.6 mm, Nannilam 60.6 mm, Needamangalam 28.5 mm, Neyvasal Thenpathi 22.4 mm, Mannargudi 32 mm, Thiruthuraipoondi 80.4 mm, Tiruvarur 73.2 mm, Papanasam 10.2 mm, Thanjavur 5.6 mm, and Muthupettai 35.4 mm.