K. Manivasan, Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department said that work is being carried on a war-footing to plug the 35 metre breach in the Lower Bhavani Project canal at Ukkaram in Sathyamangalam block on Saturday.
At 5.45 p.m. on Thursday, a breach was reported in the left bank of the canal at Mallanaickanoor village and the discharge from the reservoir was stopped. Water entered houses in three villages and farmlands affecting standing crops. Officials of the Public Works Department began works by placing sand bags that is expected to be completed by Sunday.
On Saturday, Mr. Manivasan along with officials inspected the works and held discussions.
He told mediapersons that the breach led to inundation of houses in Kethampalayam and Chinna Peelamedu as 128 families were evacuated and shifted to marriage halls.
He said that officials are in the process of assessing the damage to crops due to flooding and added that compensation would be provided to them soon.
Also, compensation would be provided to people whose houses were damaged. He also added that the stability of the canal’s bank would be checked and restoration work would be carried out, if needed.
Earlier in the day, Minister for School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare K.A. Sengottaiyan, Minister for Environment K.C. Karuppannan, and MLAs, visited the two villages and handed over flood relief assistance worth ₹11,200 to each of the affected families.
Mr. Sengottaiyan told mediapersons that crops in 510 acre farmlands were affected and compensation of ₹5,000 per acre would be given to the farmers.
