DHARMAPURI: The big surge in inflows into the Cauvery River has partially covered the Hogenakkal waterfalls and the path way to that place, forcing the district administration to maintain its previous order to close the falls area for the safety of picnickers.
Cauvery at Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district received the highest inflow that crossed over 80,000 cusecs due to the surplus discharge from the dams in Karnataka. According to the PWD officials here, such a huge inflow has been recorded after four years since August 2014.
The reading taken on Monday morning by the staff of the Central water commission office at Biligundulu, from where Cauvery enters into Tamil Nadu, was 80,000 cusecs and that gradually increased to touch over one lakh cusecs in the latter part of the day.
As Cauvery swells fast, the district administration has taken more precautionary measures and is monitoring the situation in villages along the course of the river.
“Only two fishermen villages, Ottamalai and Biligundulu in our district are close to the river. We monitor the villages and if required people will be shifted to safer places,” A revenue official told reporters.
He added, “the Fire and rescue services department men, police and a team of the Revenue department staffs are camping at Hogenakkal to handle any flood-related issues.”
Besides, the district administration has also appointed special teams, which will patrol the river side to avoid people from entering the river or taking the coracle ride.
“Groups have been formed with the local villagers. They were asked to patrol the riverside and stop people if they dared to enter the river or take the coracle ride despite the ban,” the officer said.
