Cuddalore: 1.15 lakh cubic feet of water per second is being discharged from Keezanai into Kollidam river. As a result, 50 coastal villagers of Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts have been warned of flood risk.
Mettur Dam has reached its full capacity of 120 feet due to heavy rains in the Cauvery catchment areas. In this situation, more than 2 lakh cubic feet of excess water is being released from the dam per second. This water is released into Cauvery river. Due to this, about 1 lakh 20 thousand cubic feet of water per second has been released in Kollidam river from Kallanai and Mukkom.
Since the bottom can hold only 9 feet of water, the discharge of excess water was increased from Thursday (Aug. 4) morning. At 6 pm, 1 lakh 15 thousand cubic feet of water per second has been released in Kollidam river.
Due to this there has been flood in Kollidam river. Due to this, a flood warning has been issued for 50 coastal villages in Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai districts. On the orders of District Collector K. Balasubramaniam in Cuddalore district, officials of various departments including water resources department officials, revenue department officials and police have camped in the villages on the left bank of Kollidam river under the district.
Firefighters have been called from various parts of the district and have been kept ready with protective equipment including rubber boats in various villages along the banks including the Kollidam river bridge near Chidambaram. The revenue department is issuing flood warning through loudspeakers in every village and advising the public to be safe.
In this situation, water resources department officials have said that due to excess water coming to the bottom of the river, the amount of water being gradually released into the Kollidam river is likely to be increased and about 2 lakh cubic meters of water will be released per second.
