The Cauvery is in spate. After a prolonged dry period, there is copious water flow in the river that is carrying over 70,000 cusecs discharged from Mettur dam. People in low-lying areas have been warned to move to safer places while officials are taking all precautions to deal with contingencies.
The realisation at Jedarpalayam Bed Regulator at the western end of the district across the river was 70,000 cusecs by evening and the same quantum was recorded at Kattalai Bed Regulator at Mayanur later. The flow in the river was expected to cross one lakh cusecs by Monday when gradually the discharge from Mettur would reach the region. Collector S.Jayandhi visited critical spots along the banks of the river at Velayuthampalayam, Thalavapalayam, Vangal, and Nerur. The Collector reviewed the preparedness of the official machinery.
Police reinforcements have been posted to prevent people from taking bath in vulnerable areas, including at Velayuthampalayam, Vangal, Nerur, Kattalai, Mayanur, Lalapet, and Kulithalai. Officials are monitoring the situation closely.
Thanjavur: Collector K.Baskaran has issued a flood warning to people living on the river banks and in low-lying areas. In a release here on Sunday, he said that they should move to safer places as there is heavy discharge from Mettur dam in view of heavy inflow into the dam. He inspected the areas that are identified vulnerable. People could contact 1077 and inform anything related to floods in any part of Thanjavur district.
Nagapattinam: The district administration has issued a warning to people residing near Kollidam. Collector T.Munusamy said a warning has been issued for Alakudi and Mudalaimedu on Kollidam. While Alakudi has suffered recurrent breaches during floods, Mudalaimedu village is in the middle of the river, and hence the 60 families that reside there have been asked to evacuate. Arrangements have been made at Alakudi high school to accommodate the moving families.
Tiruchi: The surplus water discharged from Mettur Reservoir is expected to reach Mukkombu (Upper Anicut) in the outskirts of the city on Monday and a major portion of the water will be diverted into the Coleroon river. A flood alert has been sounded for people living along the banks of the Cauvery and Coleroon rivers. District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan advised such residents to move to safer places along with their cattle as water will be discharged in the Coleroon from Monday. The flood warning was also conveyed to people living in low lying areas through tom-tom on Sunday, official sources said. As on Sunday evening, about 23,000 cusecs was realised at Mukkombu and the entire water was flowing in the Cauvery. The realisation at Mukkombu is expected to cross 50,000 cusecs on Monday morning and reach one lakh cusecs by evening. Public Works Department authorities said that only 25,000-30,000 of this would be released in the Cauvery and the entire surplus would be diverted at Coleroon.
The surplus discharge from the reservoir, which reached its full level Sunday night, is expected to sustain over the next few days.
