Roads, crops hit as monsoon unleashes wrath over district
Most of the canals and rivers are in spate, inundating agriculture land along the banks
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-05 06:27 GMT
Kochi: Though there was a slight respite from the torrential rains that lashed the district in the last few days, the monsoon fury is very much alive in many places. Vast tracts of plantain, rubber, tapioca and other agriculture crops have been damaged in the eastern areas of the district including Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Pothanikkad.
Most of the canals and rivers are in spate, inundating agriculture land along the banks. Widespread damage of plantain crops will result in price escalation of banana during Onam, said farmers.
Low lying areas along the banks of the Muvattupuzha river are under the threat of being inundated. Hundreds of families in Maradi panchayat are concerned over the rising river water level. Since paddy lands have been inundated, several brick kilns operating in the area had to be closed down.
A 24-hour control room has been opened at Muvattupuzha taluk office to coordinate relief measures.
Water level in the Periyar is also on the rise, though the shutters of dams are yet to be opened. “Though the shutters are yet to be opened, the water level in the Periyar has been on the rise. On Monday, the water level and the turbidity level in the river were up from the previous day. The turbidity level was 22 ntu (nephelometric turbidity units),” said Anil, assistant engineer, Kerala Water Authority pump house, Aluva.
Most of the roads in the city and outskirts have also been damaged in the heavy rains making riding too tough for motorists.