A small portion on the left bank of Kongan channel near Papanasam suffered a breach on Thursday.
The breach occurred when officials lifted the sluice gates of the channel to let 80 cusecs of water from the Cauvery into it. As the water started flowing into the channel, branching off from the Cauvery at Mettutheru hamlet near Papanasam, the bund on the left side suffered a breach for about three metres from near the sluice.
Immediately, PWD officials were alerted and they rushed to the village with materials such as casuarina poles and sand bags to reinforce the breached bund around noon. At the same time, inflow into the Cauvery from Grand Anaicut was substantially reduced and the water released into the Cauvery was diverted into the Kudamuruti at Thirukattupalli, official sources said.
About 4,000 acres in Karuppur, Kabisthalam, Koonancheri, Narasimhapuram, Aadhanur, Pullaboothangudi, Thirumandakudi, Olaipadi, Erumaipatti and surrounding villages depended on the cChannel for irrigation.
Agriculture Minister R. Doraikannu and Collector A. Annadurai visited the spot and inspected bund restoration works carried out by PWD.