A breach on the left bank of the Kalyanaodai caused inundation of neighbouring paddy fields at Mela Ulur village in Orathanadu taluk in the district and also disrupted supply of water for irrigation in the canal on Monday.
The breach occurred at around 10 a.m. on Monday morning apparently after a few trees on the banks, including teak trees planted on the bunds, were uprooted as the soil is believed to have turned loose in the recent rain. About 840 cusecs of water was flowing in the river when the breach occurred.
The bund breached for a length of about 10 metres and the water flowed through the breach to inundate neighbouring paddy fields. On being alerted, police, Revenue, Public Works Department and Fire and Rescue Service personnel rushed to spot. However, there was no damage to life or property.
Though there was no immediate estimate of the extent of inundated area, a PWD official said that only a small extent of paddy fields was inundated and the water was draining fast. The canal, which is a branch of the Grand Anicut canal, has about 80,000 acres of ayacut area, he said.
Collector A. Annadurai, who inspected the breach and the water-logged areas along with Murugesan, Executive Engineer, GA Canal Division, PWD, said that release of water in the canal has been suspended with the closure of the head sluice at Soorakottai. Repair works have begun and adequate quantity of casuarina poles and sand bags were being moved to the spot. The breach would be plugged within a couple of days, Mr. Annadurai said.
Water flow in Grand Anicut Canal has not been affected and the breach on the Kalyanaodai would be plugged by Tuesday evening. “We hope to resume water release gradually from Wednesday,” the official said.
Samba paddy cultivation is fast under way across the Cauvery delta. Supply of water for irrigation for samba season this year has faced hiccups right from the beginning.
The GA Canal had breached near Budalur in July this year and in August the partial collapse of the regulator across the Kollidam river at Upper Anicut had caused a major disruption in water supply.
The erosion of the Kollidam river bund at Alakudi in Nagapattinam district had also raised a scare.
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