Widespread rain in central districts

Several parts of central districts received moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday.

Navalur Kottapattu in Tiruchi district and Pudukottai town recorded 11 cm of rainfall during the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday. Tiruchi city too recorded heavy rain with Tiruchi Town recording 9 cm of rainfall. The chief amount of rainfall received in various parts of the region during the same period (in cm) was:

Tiruchi Junction, Sudhamalli Dam and Kudimiyanmalai 8; Tiruchi Airport 7; Ponmalai and Kuruvadi in Ariyalur 6; Thirumanur, Kovilpatti, Padalur, Ponnaniyar Dam and Marungapuri 5; Vathalai Anaicut , Ayyampettai, Karaiyur, Jayamkondam, Annavasal, Aravakurichi, Thenparanadu , T.Palur, Tiruvaiyaru, Mayanur 4; Budalur, Samayapuram, Illuppur, Manalmedu, Mayiladuthurai, Thalaignayer, Musiri, Manjalaru, Grand Anaicut, Puthu Vettakudi, Thuvakudi, Perungalur, Kulithalai and Agaram Sigur 3; and Papanasam, Karur, Thiruvidaimaruthur, Kollidam, Kadavur, Krishnarayapuram, Keeranur, Viralimalai, Nandhiyar Head, Lalgudi, Kumbakonam,Vedaranyam, Ariyalur, Pullambadi, Perambalur, Kulithalai, Jayamkondam and Ponnamaravathi 2.

The rainfall is widely expected to be beneficial for cultivation of samba paddy and other crops in the region. Some of the dry belts such as Marungapuri in Tiruchi and parts of Perambalur district have also received good rainfall.

Farmers protest

A section of farmers resorted to a road roko at Marthakonviduthi Four Roads Junction near Karambakudi in Pudukottai district on Saturday, urging Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation not to reject paddy brought to direct purchase centres on grounds of high moisture content. The protest was withdrawn after officials held talks with the protestors.

Minister inspection

Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare R.Vinoth, accompanied by Thanjavur Collector R. Revathi, inspected various parts of Kumbakonam town on Saturday to review the precautionary measures put in place in view of the onset of the northeast monsoon.

He inspected the removal of silt from various canals in the town and urged officials to expedite the works.

The Minister instructed the officials to maintain vigil and ensure unobstructed flow in the canals as rain water stagnation could pose health hazard to people.

Mr. Vinoth called for coordinated efforts from various departments to identify places where rainwater was stagnant and initiate efforts to drain it.