Crops in 60,000 acres under water in Nagai

Pazhaiyatrangarai, Kundooran Veli, and Vandal villages have been isolated and surrounded by flood waters to a height of 7 feet till Saturday. From Sunday night, heavy downpour continued and water logging has been reported from the low lying areas. According to the IMD report, Vedaranyam has received 12 cm of rainfall.

Due to this, farmlands which were already under water are again inundated. As they are unable to drain the water, farmers fear severe crop damage.

Similarly, Pushpavanam, Kollutheevu, Gandhi Nagar and Kovil Thavu, the tail end regions of the delta were cut off due to water inundation till Monday evening. Residents were evacuated to nearby buildings and on Monday, Minister OS Manian visited the spot.

In Thanjavur, farmers demanded release of water from the Mettur dam to cultivate samba at the Kumbakonam Revenue Divisional level farmers grievance redressal meeting that was held on Monday with the Assistant Collector M Pradeep Kumar in chair.

Sundara Vimalnathan, a farmer from Swamimalai said due to the recent rains the water release from Mettur dam was suspended.

“As the rains have stopped, there is a need for water to irrigate the standing samba paddy. Hence, 22,000 cusecs should be released from Mettur,” he urged.

He also informed that cultivation could not be taken up in thousands of acres as the Kongan vaikkal, Manappadayur and Pudupadayur canals were not desilted. To protest the indifferent attitude of the PWD, farmers would stage a protest when the Chief Minister visits Thanjavur on November 29.