Rain in Tiruchi – The Hindu

The sight of Gundur Lake in Tiruchi district has started flowing after the recent incessant rains in its catchment area. | Photo credit: M. idol

Most of the tanks in Ariyalur district are full to their capacity due to heavy rains during the northeast monsoon, especially in the second week of December.

There are 2,481 tanks in the district. 57 of them are classified as major tanks. Others are classified as small tanks. As the district received only moderate rainfall in October and November, the storage in many tanks was not in line with expectations till the first week of December. However, due to heavy rains on Thursday and Friday, most of them are flooded.

The district receives an average rainfall of 160.8 mm in December. However, 259.75 mm of rain has been received so far this month, which is 100 mm more than the average. Because of this, most of the lakes and ponds have started filling up. Besides, heavy rains in several parts of Tiruchi and Perambalur districts led to heavy flow in forest streams and Maruthaiyaru river.

According to official sources, out of 2,481 tanks, 696 have reached the maximum level. A total of 421 tanks have storage between 81% and 91%. The number of tanks with storage between 51% and 71% is 912. About 450 tanks have less than 50% water storage. Large lakes like Karaivetty and Seetamalli are submerged in water.

Ariyalur Collector P. Rathinasamy said Hindu Due to the flow of the river, the water level in the tank is increasing. The prospects of reaching the maximum capacity of tanks with more than 50% storage were bright. Officials of the Water Resources and Rural Development Department and Nagar Panchayat were directed to increase vigilance to prevent the dam from bursting.

The capacity of Gundur Lake, located on the Tiruchi-Pudukottai highway, the largest in the district, is high. The pond spread over an area of ​​544 acres has been flooded. Similarly Kottapattu Periyakulam and Kollankulam are full.