Officials directed to finish desilting works within a week

Dr Sathyagopal said, the works are going on at as many as 40 water bodies in Tiruchy district and works at the irrigation canals at a distance of 178 km has been underway. They should be completed within a week to ensure water reach the tail end regions in the district. He also instructed the officials to form additional task force teams to monitor flood situations.  

Later, he convened a meeting with the officials from the department of agriculture, revenue and rural development agencies and urged to inspect the districts where the Cauvery flows. He asked the officials to be alert and monitor the flow of water round the clock so that flooding should be prevented on time. He asked to fill all the ponds and lakes for agriculture use. 

Later, he went to Thanajvur and inspected the works there. He also inspected the Kallanai and asked the water capacity and inflow of water into the dam. He also asked Cauvery, Kollidam, Vennaru and Kallanai canal capacity and the quantity of water released periodically. Later he convened a meeting with the officials of various departments asking them to ensure clearing of vegeta tion from the waterbodies for free flow of water. Mukkombu closed Following the flood warning issued in the district, the Mukkombu tourist spot was closed for visitors by the PWD as a precautionary action. It is to protect tourists from going near the surging water in Cauvery. With the water level expected to increase during night, the upper anaicut shutters have been opened to release water into Kollidam at Mukkombu by Tuesday evening. Nearly 24,000 cusecs of water is currently released in the Cauvery and about 150 cusecs is discharged in Kollidam. The volume is expected to increase by Tuesday night, the officials said.