Breach in Grand Anaicut canal at Budalur after increase in discharge

Initially only 1,000 cusecs were released into the Grand Anaicut canal to ascertain the strength of the banks on July 22. As farmers were demanding more water to be released to fill the lakes and tanks in the tail-end areas of Pattukkottai, Peravurani and Sethubavachathiram, water discharge was increased gradually. Water discharge stood at 2,900 cusecs on Wednesday evening and was further increased to 3,004 on Thursday morning. 

However, the southern bank of the GA canal breached between Kalvirayanpettai and Vairaperumalpatti to an extent of 20 feet. Thereafter,  water gushed into the nearby fields. However, as there were no crop on the fields and the houses too were located far from the area, there was no damage. Thereafter, soil was brought in eight tipper lorries and efforts were made to plug the breach with the sand bags. 

However, the work suffered progress due to strong water current. Later in the evening, the water release into the Grand Anaicut canal was stopped and the work of plugging the breach commenced. As the work is expected to be completed on Friday morning, the officials said the decision to reopen the sluice gates at Kallanai to let water into the GA canal would be taken after due consideration. Meanwhile, the officials including K Satyagopal, the Commissioner of Revenue administration, A Annadurai, district Collector and others visited the site and instructed the PWD officials to plug the breach at the  earliest. Later, around 10,000 sand bags were brought to the spot and placed across the breech. 

On information, Thanjavur SP Senthil Kumar along with district fire and rescue personnel arrived at the spot and plugged the breach. The farmers alleged that no proper work was being undertaken under the Kudimaramathu scheme in these locations that resulted into the breech. However, official sources claimed that the breach occurred since there were a large number of rat holes at the particular area in the river bank.