Several parts of Tiruchi district continued to receive intermittent rain on Friday. A substantial portion of the rain flow in the Cauvery River was being diverted into the Coleroon River from Upper Anicut near Tiruchi. Tiruchi city received steady rain since afternoon. The continuing rain over the last few days caused damage to some of the city roads.
According to PWD River Conservation Division sources, about 8,240 cusecs of water was being discharged into the Coleroon River from the Upper Anicut (Mukkombu) while 2,119 cusecs flowed into the Cauvery River. The realisation at Upper Anicut was coming down gradually. About 13,650 cusecs was discharged into the Coleroon River on Friday morning.
Ariyar Division officials said the inflow into Ponnaniyar Dam had also come down. The water level at the dam stood at around 44 feet against its full level of 51 feet. Of the 98 rain-fed tanks under the control of Ariyar Division in Tiruchi district, only eight had filled up so far and most of them were in the Thuraiyur region. All the other tanks had less than 50 per cent storage.
Agriculture Department officials said the rain would be beneficial for the samba crop. Samba transplantation has been completed in about 57,000 hectares in the district against the targeted 62,500 hectares. Officials said the target would be achieved this year. This apart, about 1,500 hectares of shortfall in the kuruvai season was also expected to be covered during the samba season. Officials and farmers said there was no damage to the crop owing to the rain so far. The rain has not been very heavy and there was no inundation of fields.
Kovilpatti recorded the maximum of 29.20 mm during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Friday. The following were the rainfall recorded in other parts during the same period (in mm): Thuvakudi 28.40, Pullampadi 22.80, Nandhiyar Head 22, Tiruchi Airport 18.80, Lalgudi 18.40, Kallakudi 18.20, Golden Rock 18, Navalur Kottapattu 17, Tiruchi Junction 16.30, Samayapuram 16, Tiruchi Town 15.20, Sirugudi 15, Manapparai 12.60, Musiri 12, Vathalai Anicut 11 and Thuraiyur 10. The district received an average of 14.32 mm of rainfall .
Holiday announced
Collector Mahesan Kasirajan has ordered holiday for all the schools in the district on Saturday following the continuous downpour.
