CUDDALORE:
According to a preliminary estimate, standing paddy crop on about 25,000 acres in Cuddalore district has been submerged.
A large tract of farm lands alongside the Velliangal Odai – a stormwater outlet from the Veeranam tank – and the Paravanar are among the worst affected. V. Kannan of Kollidam-Keelanai Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam told The Hindu that the heavy discharge of about 5,000 cusecs through the Velliangal Odai from the Veeranam tank had submerged standing crops in 40 villages along its course such as Veeranatham, Edayar, Pillaiyarthangal, Siragilandanallur and Thirunaraiyur.
The fragile Meensurutti bridge on Kattumannarkoil-Tiruchi road was washed away by floods, cutting off villages from the Kattumannarkoil block. The bridge was more of a make-shift structure, consisting of cement pipes and soil, which could hardly withstand floods, Mr. Kannan said.
K. Vijayakumar of Sethiathope Anicut Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam said crops on at least 6,000 acres in the ayacut area of the dam were under water.
The affected villages include Mela Manakudi, Keezha Manakudi, Peria Kumutti, Chinna Kumutti, Poovalai, Alamelumangapuram, Sathyanallur and Kothattai. The villages were situated alongside the course of the Paravanar, which was carrying rainwater from vast catchments areas spread over places such as Perambalur, Ariyalur, Namakkal, Salem and Cuddalore, besides water baled out from the NLC mines at Neyveli.
Since the crops in the Sethiathope anicut ayacut areas were hardly two weeks old, they were highly prone to pest attacks. In some of the areas such as Velangipattu, transplantation was yet to be completed. Mr. Vijayakumar also said that fertilizers applied to crops were fully washed away. District Revenue Officer S. Natarajan told The Hindu that about 50 houses in Boothangudi and Kalgunam areas were water-logged. The Veeranam tank was getting an inflow of 6,000 cusecs and the same quantity was being discharged through Velliangal Odai (5,000 cusecs) and Veeranam New Supply System (1,000 cusecs).
The water level in the tank was being maintained at 45.5 ft against its full height of 47.5 ft. Officials were keeping a round-the-clock vigil on all water sources.
Rainfall
Rainfall in Cuddalore district was recorded as follows:
Vriddhachalam – 235 mm,
Vanamadevi – 233.40 mm,
Kuppanatham – 224.70 mm,
Kothavacheri – 224 mm,
Lalpet – 222 mm,
Sethiathope – 217 mm,
Kattumannarkoil – 210 mm,
Tholudur – 205 mm,
Bhuvanagiri – 204 mm,
Cuddalore – 203.8 mm,
Chidamabaram – 202 mm,
Annamalai Nagar – 189 mm,
Parangipettai – 185 mm,
Panruti – 159.60 mm,
Sri Mushnam – 145 mm and
Vepur – 90 mm.
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