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Irrigation water supply resumed
SOLUTION: Workers lining up sand bags to plug a major breach in the Uyyakondan at Kattur Pappakurichi on Friday.
TIRUCHI: The Public Works Department has resumed release of water in the irrigation channels in Tiruchi district after plugging the breaches caused by the recent rains.
Release of water for irrigation in the 17 channels under the River Conservation Division of the PWD was closed following heavy rains last week. The timely closure of the channels had helped drain the rain water.
PWD officials worked at a feverish pace over the past few days to plug the breaches using sand bags and piles. Major breaches had occurred on the banks of the Uyyakondan river, several other channels, tanks and drains.
Breaches had occurred in at least 8 places along the Uyyakondan , causing heavy damages in the Tiruverambur region. This apart, several breaches had taken place along the Pullampadi channel, New High Level Kattalai channel (NKHLC), Killi Vaical and other channels across the district. Some of these were major.
PWD officials said all the breaches had been plugged temporarily so that water supply could be resumed to save the standing crops. Continued suspension of water supply would create a problem for farmers.
They pointed out that the release of water for irrigation from the Mettur reservoir had also been resumed. The Mettur water would reach the Kattalai Bed Regulator soon and in the meantime the water demand in the channels was being met with the rain flows in the Cauvery river. On Friday, supply was resumed in the NKHLC and some channels, a senior PWD official said.
Permanent restoration would be taken up on receipt of funds from the government.
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