Chennai: Southern Tamil Nadu is experiencing heavy rainfall, leading district collectors in Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Karaikal to declare a holiday for all government and private schools today. In Ramanathapuram, colleges are also closed due to the severe weather.
The collector of Virudhunagar has given school heads the authority to decide on closures as the region has been significantly affected by rain since morning.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has predicted further heavy rainfall in northern coastal areas, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram, starting November 22. These districts are expected to see above-normal rainfall from November 22 to 28, while other parts of Tamil Nadu may receive normal to below-normal precipitation during the same period.
From October 1 to November 15, Tamil Nadu recorded 276 mm of rainfall during the Northeast Monsoon, with Coimbatore experiencing the highest at 418 mm, which is 67% above normal levels. Seventeen districts, including Chennai, reported excess rainfall, while others faced deficits.
The state’s reservoirs are currently over 60% full due to significant rainfall since the monsoon began on October 17. The reservoirs collectively hold 143.804 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water, which is 64.11% of their total capacity of 224.297 tmcft, a notable increase from last year’s storage of just 79.514 tmcft (35.58%).
The Mettur reservoir, a crucial water source, has reached a storage level of 62,140 tmcft, reflecting a 384% increase from the same time last year. The Bhavanisagar reservoir has also seen a rise, currently holding 21,141 tmcft, which is a 210% increase compared to 2023.
Officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) attribute these improved storage levels to increased rainfall and inflows from Karnataka. The Supreme Court had mandated Karnataka to release 134.2284 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu between June and October; however, due to heavy rainfall in Karnataka’s catchment areas, they released 221.1125 tmcft, exceeding the requirement by 86.8842 tmcft.
Farmers in the Cauvery Delta, known as Tamil Nadu’s rice bowl, have urged the government to release water from reservoirs for summer agricultural activities. U.V. Pasupathy, leader of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, noted that farmers typically have three growing seasons but often only cultivate twice due to water shortages. He emphasized that with better water management, it would be possible to farm all three seasons, including summer.
To prevent flooding, the WRD plans to release water through surplus channels in a controlled manner, ensuring additional water availability for drinking needs in the upcoming summer.