Several parts of the Cauvery delta region continued to receive moderate rain on Friday after some heavy overnight rain in many parts of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.
Heavy rain lashed Vedaranyam, Nagapattinam, Tirupoondi and Thalaignayiru in Nagapattinam district and Thiruthuraipoondi in neighbouring Tiruvarur district on Thursday night. A few houses in low-lying areas near Thiruthuraipoondi were inundated with rainwater. Karaikal in neighbouring Puducherry also received good rain.
Nagapattinam, Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai and Tharangampadi in Nagapattinam district; Thirthuraipoondi, Tiruvarur, Nannilam, Valaingaiman and Kodavasal in Tiruvarur district; and Kumbakonam, Papanasam, Thiruvidaimaruthur and Manjalaru in Thanjavur district received good rain on Friday too.
Many parts of Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Ariyalur district also received moderate rainfall during the day. A holiday was declared for schools in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Pudukottai districts on Friday as a precautionary measure.
Minister in Tiruvarur
Food Minister R. Kamaraj, accompanied by Collector L. Nirmal Raj and other officials, inspected draining of rainwater in the Adappar at Chidambarakottam in Tiruvarur district. Mr.Kamaraj said 135 teams, comprising 633 officers, had been formed to carry out and supervise monsoon-related preventive measures such as rescue and relief and medical assistance.
The PWD had stocked up 1.02 lakh sand bags at 16 places to plug breaches on water courses. A total of 212 low-lying areas had been identified and 249 relief shelters were kept ready to accommodate people.
The widespread rain in the delta is seen beneficial to the standing samba and thaladi paddy crop. “This is a helpful rain and we appear to be on a safe wicket as of now. Given the present storage level at Mettur reservoir and the improved groundwater table with the help of monsoon, we are hopeful of a good harvest. This being a late samba/thaladi crop, the harvest is likely by January-end and early February,” said S. Ranganathan, general secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association.
However, Mr. Ranganathan said that harvest of kuruvai crop in a few places could be affected by the rain. In this context, he underlined the importance of farmers sticking to traditional crop seasons.
“Many farmers go for a summer paddy crop utilising the available groundwater - kuruvai is cultivated in April/May rather than June. They tap groundwater till July/August. This not only affects the watertable but also creates problems in procurement. Traders also do not offer a good price in the open market. I appeal to the farmers to stick to the seasons,” Mr.Ranganathan said.
The chief amount of rainfall recorded in the central districts during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Friday (in mm):
Nagapattinam district: Tirupoondi 157.60, Vedaranyam 152.60, Thalaignayiru 151.20, Nagapattinam 141.40, Mayiladuthurai 88, Sirkazhi 55.20, Manalmedu 54, Kollidam 46.30 and Tharangambadi 26.50
Tiruvarur district: Thiruthuraipoondi 128.4, Tiruvarur 78.2, Nannilam 73.4, Kodavasal 44.8, Pandavaiyar head 38.8, Valangaiman 36.4, Muthupettai 32, Mannargudi 25 and Needamangalam 20.21
Thanjavur district: Manjalaru 61.60, Pattukottai 54.60, Thiruvidaimaruthur 43.80, Papanasam 32.30, Madukkur 56.40, Adirampatinam 37.30, Lower Anaicut 17.80 and Thanjavur 15; Pudukottai district – Manamelkudi 39, Kattumavadi 34 and Meemisal 29.20
Tiruchi district: Nandhiyar Head 10.20, Thuvakudi 8.40, Lalgudi 6.40 and Tiruchi Town 6.
