Tamil Nadu: Controversy Over Sathanur Dam Water Release During Cyclone Fengal
Chennai:Even as the government machinery and people of the State were struggling to overcome the crisis caused by the unprecedented rains brought by Cyclone Fengal, another controversy has broken out over the opening of the Sathanur dam with the opposition parties claiming that 1.68 lakh square feet of water per second was released without warning and the government categorically denying the charge
Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, in a statement on Tuesday, said that five warnings were issued before the dam was opened after the water level rose following continuous rains and came close to touching the full level of 119 feet.
Earlier the water was released into Thenpennaiaru expecting heavy inflow. Ever since the level reached 110 feet on October 25, the first emergency warning was issued by the Sathanur Assistant Executive Engineer under the Compendium Rules. With the inflow continuing at that range, the maximum level was maintained at 117.56 feet till November 30.
Following heavy rains on December 1 when Cyclone Fengal crossed the coast bringing profuse downpour to the catchment areas and Sathanur itself receiving 21.86 cm showers, the inflow increased to 19,500 square feet from 6 am when the third warning was issued as the Krishnagiri dam above the Thenpennai River and other rivers were in spate.
Another flood warning was issued at 8 am and yet another at 11.50 am on December 1. That evening the inflow continued to rise and touched 3200 square feet, the fourth warning was issued at 10 pm. By 11 pm the inflow rose to 32000 square feet and to 63000 square feet by midnight and 106000 by 1 am on December 2 with the downpour continuing, which led to the fifth warning at 2.45 am.
Water was let out at a rate of 16800 square feet per second from 3 am on December 2 and the fifth warning was issued at 2.45 pm, the Minister said that false information was being spread without any knowledge of the behavior of Cyclone Fengal, which began as a low pressure area on November 24 to become a deep low pressure area on November 27.
Also the cyclone suddenly made an U turn and started moved southwards, he said adding that it was the deft handling of the unprecedented situation that prevented any loss of life and if the dam was not opened and 1,80,000 cubic feet water not let out, the dam itself would have breached leading to the loss of the seven TMC water and causing widespread devastation.
State Minister for HR & CE P K Sekarbabu also defended the government, saying the government had taken all precautionary measures and had issued five warnings ahead of the opening of the dam. He also pointed out that there was no loss of life in the release of water in River Thenpennai.
But AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the three districts on the banks of Thenpanniar, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Villupuram suffered a lot with water entering many places as the water was released from Sathanur without proper warning.
Several villages went under water and the towns of Cuddalore and Villupuram were inundated with water entering many housing colonies because the DMK government under Chief Minister M K Stalin failed to issue flood warnings in advance.
PMK founder S Ramadoss said that incident reminded one of the 2015 floods that caused widespread devastation in Chennai because the Chembarambakkam lake was opened suddenly, letting a huge quantity of water into the Adyar River.
BJP State President K Annamalai, too, said the sudden flooding of River Thenpennai caused the devastation even as he toured the flood affected areas and distributed relief.
Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam founder president Vijay also blamed the State government for the floods and said that the government had not taken precautionary measures. He also distributed assistance to people from north Chennai who were also affected by the rains.
