The State government has taken all possible precautionary measures in the wake of discharge of over two lakh cusecs of water in the Cauvery river from Mettur dam, said Vellamandi N. Natarajan, Minister for Tourism.
He was speaking to reporters on Saturday after visiting the Mayanur barrage along with Minister for Backward Classes S. Valarmathi and Minister for Transport M.R. Vijayabaskar and Collectors K. Rajamani (Tiruchi) and T. Anbalagan (Karur).
Mr. Natarajan said that there had been heavy flow of water in the Cauvery for the last one week. A well planned system was in place for the safe passage of water in the Cauvery and Coleroon. The heavy flow had resulted in water inundation in a few villages in Tiruchi and Karur districts. About 450 acres of paddy, sugarcane and banana crops had been affected in Tiruchi district due to this. Officials have been asked to survey the extent of flood damage in Tiruchi and Karur districts, he added.
The Minister said that the Public Works Department officials had been asked to closely monitor the bunds of the Cauvery and the Coleroon to prevent breach. Sand bags had been placed at Thiruparaithurai to prevent erosion of bund due to heavy water current. The Highways authorities were closely monitoring the old Coleroon bridge, which had developed a major crack. The bridge had been abandoned since the opening of new bridge adjacent to it. The ways and means to dismantling the damaged bridged had been taken to the notice of the Government.
Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran said that a few areas in Woraiyur including Lingam Nagar and Kambarasampettai have been inundated due to increase flow in Kudamuriti canal. Though there was no cause for worry, as a precautionary measure, the residents have been asked to move to safety.
In Nagapattinam, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles O. S. Manian, after inspecting villages such as Vadarengam, Mathirivelur, Sothiyakudi, Gopalasamudiram, Thirumayiladi and Alakudi along the Coleroon banks, urged people to remain safe as the water flow in the river would rise further. The district administration has arranged to make announcements through tom tom asking people living along the river banks to move to safe places.
Control rooms
Control rooms equipped with VHF sets have been set up Mayiladuthurai, Porayar and Sirkazhi to monitor the situation round-the-clock. This apart, teams comprising officials of PWD, Rural Development and Police have been formed to patrol and maintain vigil, especially at vulnerable places.
In Thanjavur, Agriculture Minister R. Doraikkannu, accompanied by R.Vaithilingam, MP, inspected villages along the banks of Coleroon and the Grand Anicut Canal in the district.
He also inspected the Grand Anicut for a first hand account of the situation and enquired with officials about the quantum of water discharge into the GA Canal, Coleroon, Vennar and Cauvery from the anicut. He inspected the Pattukudi village where houses were inundated and the precautionary measures being taken by PWD at Pudukudi and Vazhkai villages in Papanasum Union.
Later, Mr. Doraikkannu said that police pickets have been posted along the river banks to monitor the situation and also warn people against venturing close to the water courses. Necessary arrangements have been made to accommodate people affected by inundation in temporary shelters and also to feed them, he said.
