Burevi Cyclone: The constant downpours, downstream water flow and drainage obstructions have led to the flooding
Burevi Cyclone: The constant downpours, downstream water flow and drainage obstructions have led to the flooding
December 7, 2020 Authorbaji55
The acreage of paddy crops under flooding in Nagapattinam has increased above 54,000 hectares
due to Cyclone Burevi, or over 40% of the 1,30,000 hectares under cultivation in the district.
The constant downpours, downstream water flow and drainage obstructions led to the inundation.
"We are unable to drain the water from the fields. The water from upper riparian districts keeps coming towards our villages. The channels are breaking everywhere, even overwhelming the sandbags. Our crops have either been washed away or have decayed," said R Pakkiri, a Therku Panaiyur village farmer in Kilvelur block.
Most of the older Samba crops grown in August and September have recovered, although many of the younger Thaladi crops grown in October and November are still underwater. In the wake of Cyclone Nivar, the agriculture department declared zero crop losses.
"The upstream dams, such as Mettur, Upper Anaicut and Grand Anaicut, were not opened ahead of the cyclone. The waterways were almost dry before the cyclone. It is just rainwater which flooded delta districts. The districts such as Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, which are upstream of Cauvery and Vennar, released water towards the downstream tail-end districts of Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai," explains the districts.
The most affected are the Kollidam and Sirkazhi blocks, with over 8,000 hectares and 7,000 hectares underwater, respectively. "The waters are not draining as fast as expected as there is a lack of good draining infrastructure in our villages. A lot of concrete culverts should have been constructed instead of relying on pipes to drain the water. There are a lot of invasive growths in drain channels," said V Ramasamy, a farmer from Mohanur in Kilvelur block.
"We are unable to drain the water from the fields. The water from upper riparian districts keeps coming towards our villages. The channels are breaking everywhere, even overwhelming the sandbags. Our crops have either been washed away or have decayed," said R Pakkiri, a Therku Panaiyur village farmer in Kilvelur block.
Most of the older Samba crops grown in August and September have recovered, although many of the younger Thaladi crops grown in October and November are still underwater. In the wake of Cyclone Nivar, the agriculture department declared zero crop losses.
"The upstream dams, such as Mettur, Upper Anaicut and Grand Anaicut, were not opened ahead of the cyclone. The waterways were almost dry before the cyclone. It is just rainwater which flooded delta districts. The districts such as Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, which are upstream of Cauvery and Vennar, released water towards the downstream tail-end districts of Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai," explains the districts.
The most affected are the Kollidam and Sirkazhi blocks, with over 8,000 hectares and 7,000 hectares underwater, respectively. "The waters are not draining as fast as expected as there is a lack of good draining infrastructure in our villages. A lot of concrete culverts should have been constructed instead of relying on pipes to drain the water. There are a lot of invasive growths in drain channels," said V Ramasamy, a farmer from Mohanur in Kilvelur block.