VILLUPURAM/ CUDDALORE: Nearly 30 acres of agricultural land were damaged in two different regions owing to heavy rainfall that lashed the district last week, according to farmers.
According to sources, about 20 acres of paddy fields that were ready for harvest in Emappur village in Thiruvennainallur were flooded in the downpour, while 10 acres of paddy and vegetables were destroyed in Kalliyankuppam, Seyyankuppam, Koonimedu and Keezhputhupattu.
Villagers said lack of proper drainage facilities in the farmland led to the water stagnation, destroying the crops.
The farmers requested the district administration to estimate the actual loss of crops for an appropriate compensation.
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Department sources said the district had received 266 mm of rainfall.
From Thursday evening to Friday morning, reports said, Gingee experienced 22 mm, while other major regions such as Thirukoilur got 4 mm, Tindivanam 32 mm, Villupuram 26 mm, Ulundurpet 2 mm, Vanur 32 mm, Sankarapuram 52 mm, Kallakurichi 46 mm and Marakkanam 56 mm. An average of 29.56 mm was received in all the nine weather observatories in the district.
Meanwhile in Cuddlore, District Collector S Suresh Kumar on Friday inspected the Perumal lake here nearing its full capacity and discussed measures to control possible flooding. The Collector has also instructed PWD officials to ensure that adequate preventive measures are put in place.
Perumal lake is nearing its full capacity after continuous rains over the past few days. As the inflow has increased, surplus water is being let out. Suresh Kumar said, “Cuddalore district is receiving widespread rainfall because of which water bodies are getting more inflows. Adequate flood control measures have been taken. So far, there has been no untoward incidents.”
Through Perumal lake, about 6,500 acres of agricultural lands near Kullanchavadi block are getting water for irrigation. At present, water level is at 6 feet against its maximum capacity of 6.5 feet.
The Collector said, “Water pumped out from the NLC mines is also reaching the lake through the Paravanar river. At present, 1,218 cusecs of water is flowing into the lake.
Considering the lake’s safety and to protect agricultural lands, 1,296 cusecs water is being let out through regulators at Poovanikuppam village.” Sand bags have been kept ready at Kundiyamallur near the lake.
Cuddalore RDO Sharmila, PWD engineer Ramamurthy, agricultural department joint director Dhanasekaran, and Perumal lake farmers’ union leader Shanmugam accompanied the Collector.
Meanwhile, water level at Veeranam lake stood at 45.60 feet against its full capacity of 47.5 feet. Inflow to the lake is 300 cusecs and 581 cusecs water is being released. 74 cusecs of water is being diverted to Chennai for supply through Chennai Metro Water.