Heavy rain triggers Nochchikulam dam breach

[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 October 2002, 20:10 GMT]
Torrential rains in the catchment area of Nochchikulam in the Palamoddai Grama Sevaka district have caused failure of earth bunds 100 feet wide causing flooding of surrounding area, said sources. Seventy acres of fertile land close to the irrigation tank cannot be used for cultivation, according to these sources.

In addition, the mud huts of thirty seven families resettled in Palamoddai have been severely damaged by rain forcing the families to use the village school building as temporary shelter during nights.

Earth bunds of irrigation tanks in Pallapoovarasankulum and Navvi which were in the process of being renovated are being eroded by continuous rain, residents said.

2782 members belonging to 718 families currently live in the eight villages in the Palamoddai district. Families are undergoing severe hardship in using the damaged interior roads leading to Mallavi (30 km) and to Pulliyankulam (30 km).

"Goods and food items that were being transported from Vavuniya to Palamoddai Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society could not be moved beyond Mallavi due to bad road conditions, and had to be temporarily stored there," said Mr Mohanadas, Palamoddai Grama Sevaka official.