Several parts of the core delta districts have been receiving heavy to moderate rainfall since Wednesday evening, sustaining the optimism among farmers over the prospects of samba and thaladi crops.
While Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam in the district received heavy overnight rainfall, Tiruvarur district received moderate rain. Parts of Thanjavur district experienced mild showers.
“Vedaranyam and surrounding areas received good overnight rainfall. The rain continued till about 8 a.m. and there was bright sunshine later in the day. The rain will be beneficial for the standing samba paddy crop,” said C. Kumaragurubaran, a native of Ayakaranpulam near Vedaranyam.
This is the second spell of rain in the delta since the Northeast monsoon set in. With the Public Works Department reducing the discharge from the Mettur reservoir in view of the rainfall in the delta, farmers hope that the monsoon remains active here over the next fortnight to help conserve storage in the dam.
The chief amount of rainfall recorded during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday (in mm): Nagapattinam district – Nagapattinam 76.40, Vedaranyam 54, Thalaignayiru 30 and Tirupoondi 22.60; Tiruvarur district – Tiruvarur 33.4, Nannilam 32.8, Kodavasal-31.8, Thiruthuraipoondi 26.8, Valangaiman 20.6, Muthupettai 12, Mannargudi 9 and Needamangalam 8.2; Thanjavur district – Madukkur 9.40, Adirampattinam 6.2, Thiruvidaimarudur 6, Lower Anicut 5.8 and Kumbakonam5.