Cyclone Fengal impact: WRD moves men, material to critical areas along Thenpennai River
The authorities have also directed their subordinates managing the reservoirs to maintain the water levels at a safe level, which is two feet below the full storage capacity of the reservoirs.
CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department (WRD) has deployed officials at vulnerable points in Villupuram, Kallakurichi, and Cuddalore districts, which have been severely impacted by Cyclone Fengal.
The officials will closely monitor the situation at all waterbodies and reservoirs in the region.
The authorities have also directed their subordinates, who are managing the reservoirs to maintain safe water levels, which are two feet below the full storage capacity of the reservoirs.
Thenpennai river was in full spate following the wrath of Cyclone Fengal, bringing heavy rainfall and leaving a trail of destruction along its path in Union Territory and northern districts in Tamil Nadu.
The river, which is the State’s second longest river, carried over a lakh cusecs of water from upstream in Krishnagiri district, prompting the authorities to alert people living along the riverbed and in low-lying areas along the river bunds downstream to move to safe places.
Of this, 61,000 cusecs were released from the Sathanur reservoir, while 15,000 cusecs of water were released from the Pambar dam downstream of the river, according to a report issued at 5 pm on Monday.
The quantity of water discharge from the Sathanur reservoir increased from 38,795 cusecs at 8 am to 74,000 cusecs by noon and then it dropped to 61,000 cusecs by 5 pm, indicating a sharp increase and decline in the inflow from upstream.
The officials said that they are letting out the inflow into Pambar, Krishnagiri and Sathanur reservoirs into Thenpennai river as the water level in these reservoirs touched the safety mark.
Meanwhile, the department has ramped up its efforts in anticipation of heavy inflows from upstream, its tributaries, and their catchment areas in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts, which have been experiencing torrential rainfall triggered by the cyclone.
“We have moved personnel and materials from unaffected areas in the northern region to critical and vulnerable points in Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, and Villupuram districts. Since the upstream areas of Thenpennai and its tributaries in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts have received heavy rainfall, we are closely monitoring the water flow in the Thenpennai River,” Additional Chief Secretary of WRD K Manivasan told DT Next.
The department has instructed the authorities managing the reservoirs and tanks in the northern region, which has been severely affected by the cyclone, to take all precautionary measures and remain alert, said another official.
