Torrential rain that rocked Kodaikanal for more than two hours paralysed routine life in the hill station and nearby areas on Thursday. However, it cheered farmers on upper and lower Kodaikanal hills.
The flow of water was heavy in Silver Falls and other falls. Kodaikanal lake received a good inflow.
After a long gap, water was flowing in Rat Tail Falls. Braving the showers, a few tourists were rowing boats in Kodaikanal Lake. The crowd was thin at Coaker’s Walk and other tourist spots.
The heavy downpour blinded the vision of drivers of vehicles, which were moving at a snail’s pace on Batlagundu-Kodaikanal Ghat Road. Rainwater was flowing on the road at several places.
Sharp showers lashed Dindigul, Batlagundu, Sempatti and nearby areas. Rainwater started flowing to dry irrigation tanks in Dindigul and Batlagundu unions.
The intermittent showers occurring since August 2 were beneficial to perennial and horticultural crops, the farmers said. Dindigul district had received 349 mm rainfall on August 2.
The district had received just 3.06 mm rainfall, 90% less than the normal rainfall of 30.6, in July. At present, 91,483 tanks in the district were completely dry.
Farmers’ protest
Meanwhile, farmers in Palani block protested against the government’s plan to divert surplus water of Varadhamanadhi dam in Palani block to Nanganjiar dam in Oddanchatram block.
Members of Palani Water Users’ Association and Varattaru Irrigation Farmers’ Association, in a petition submitted at Palani PWD office, said 586 of the 5,528 acres under its ayacut were under direct irrigation and the rest under indirect irrigation. Already areas under the direct irrigation had been reeling under an acute water crisis. They said they had been facing water crisis for the last three months of every year. Diversion of surplus water from the dam would worsen the situation, they said.
Diversion of water through Nalla Thangal Odai to Oddanchatram would prevent water flow to Vyapuram tank, situated eight km away from the dam. It would ultimately affect groundwater table in Palani town and nearby areas. Farmers in Palani block had to depend only on rainwater, they added.
