The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Siruvani dam keeps overflowing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Siruvani dam keeps overflowing

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Deficient rain in Attur block; many tanks and ponds continue to remain dry Good rain in Coimbatore, deficient in Attur block; many tanks and ponds remain dry

COIMBATORE: Various parts of western Tamil Nadu are under a heavy spell of the North-East monsoon.

While Coimbatore and Salem districts did not suffere major losses, eight persons died in Krishnagiri and two in Erode. A flood alert has been sounded in Erode along the Bhavani river. Efforts are on to move people to safer places.

Coimbatore district has already received 697.5 mm as against the normal 714 mm. The Siruvani Dam continues to overflow. This dam and the Parambikulam-Aliyar Dam overflowed during the South West monsoon itself.

Salem district received 951 mm till October as against the annual average rainfall of 1034.7 mm. Salem, Edapadi, Mettur, Vazhapadi, Sankagiri and Yercaud have far exceeded the 10-year average rainfall.

But the Attur block has received only 580.8 mm, much less than the 10-year average of 762.9 mm. Many tanks and ponds in this block, which happens to be the turmeric and tapioca bowl of the State, remain dry.

Roads, houses damaged

In Namakkal, houses, roads and public structures worth Rs. 4 crores have been damaged. A total of 214 houses have been fully damaged and 1,632 houses partially damaged in Pallaipalayam, Komarapalayam and Mohanur due to floodwater from the Cauvery.

The district received 733.14 mm till October. This month, the district recorded an average rainfall of 106 mm.

More than 1,200 houses have been damaged in Erode district, mostly by floodwater from the Cauvery.

Rain claimed two lives in the district and also caused heavy damage to the turmeric, paddy and banana crops.

Farmers in Krishnagiri have a reason to cheer as the district received 20 per cent more than the normal rain till October. The ground water level has also risen here.

Krishnagiri received 402 mm rain in October as against the normal 192 mm.

Eight persons have been killed, and farmers have suffered losses too. Paddy, ragi, banana and groundnut crops on 1,265 hectares have been hit and 1,573 houses damaged.

Vigil stepped up

Rain affected the inflow of tourists and caused minor landslips in the Nilgiris. Many roads, including the Gudalur-Ooty-Mettupalayam highway, have suffered severe damage.

Disaster Management and Mitigation officials have stepped up vigil.

In October, the Nilgiris recorded an average rainfall of 277.76 mm against 296.54 mm during the corresponding period last year.

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