New Delhi: In view of heavy rainfall in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Thursday issued an advisory for the dam operators to keep strict vigil and release water carefully. The heavy rainfall is being caused by over Bay of Bengal, off north Tamil Nadu coast that moved with a speed of 23 kmph on Thursday morning and lay centred at about 250 km from Chennai.
“The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-westwards and crossed north Tamilnadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry & Chennai during 0300-0400 hrs IST of today, the 19th November 2021,” the IMD tweeted.
The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-westwards and crossed north Tamilnadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry & Chennai during 0300-0400 hrs IST of today, the 19th November 2021.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) November 19, 2021
“The depression is not deep. But the rainfall is expected to be high mainly because the north-east monsoon is active and hence the moist north-easterly winds converging along Tamil Nadu coast would bring in copious amounts of rainfall,” said IMD’s senior scientist Sunitha Devi.
“Reservoirs such as Sathanur dam and Veedur dam are likely to get significant inflows. Releases, if any, may be done as per standard operation procedure after alerting the downstream stakeholders,” the CWC advisory from its Hydrology Division in Chennai said.
“Reservoirs in these basins in Pichatoor dam (Araniyar river in Andhra Pradesh), Poondi reservoir, Chembarambakkam reservoir and other dams are likely to get significant inflow, strict vigil may be kept and releases may be made carefully keeping in view the downstream level conditions,” the CWC said.
Authorities concerned may monitor the situation with caution and are advised to be in high alert and also alert the downstream areas for increase in river levels, the advisory said.
