Northeast Monsoon Preparedness in Tamil Nadu

Northeast Monsoon Preparedness in Tamil Nadu (Vellore District)

• Flood-Prone Areas: Identification of 163 flood-prone spots by district administrations in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet, and Tirupattur.

  • Tiruvannamalai: Highest risk with 68 low-lying areas, particularly in Cheyyar and Arani.
  • Ranipet: 42 spots identified.
  • Vellore: 26 flood-prone areas mainly around the Ariyur area near Thorapadi lake.
  • Tirupattur: 27 identified areas.

• Evacuations and Relief Centers: Residents in low-lying regions such as river banks and canals have been advised to relocate to elevated areas and temporary relief centers established by district authorities.

• Infrastructure Preparedness:

  • Vellore City: 12 vulnerable spots mainly concentrated in Ariyur; each zone equipped with motor pumps to remove stagnant water.
    • Zone 4: 10 pumps deployed due to its location in a low-lying area.

• Water Management:

  • Excess rainwater from Tiruvannamalai is directed to the Vengaikaal irrigation tank (30% capacity).
  • Vellore Corporation has desilted its stormwater drainage system, which spans approximately 220 km in key areas (Katpadi, Sathuvachari, Old Town, Kaspa).
  • The Nicholson canal (9 km long) facilitates discharging excess rainwater from hills to Palar River.

• Current Weather Impact:

  • Continuous rainfall in areas including Vellore, Arcot, Arakkonam, and more has resulted in knee-deep inundation in low-lying areas such as Sampath Nagar and Kansalpet.
  • Water bodies in the region are rapidly filling.

• Waterbody Statistics: A total of 4,167 water bodies reported, which include:

  • 1,119 Minor Irrigation sources maintained by the Water Resources Department (WRD).

• Reservoir Levels: Major reservoirs in these districts are reaching approximately 50% of total capacity, prompting alerts for residents living along water channels linked to these water bodies.

This preparedness initiative highlights the intersection of environmental management and community safety in response to monsoon-related flooding risks in Tamil Nadu.