Considerable increase in Periyar, Vaigai dams’ storage
Staff Reporter
Torrential rain lashed catchments in the past two days
THENI: The storage in the Periyar and Vaigai dams has increased considerably, with the torrential rain in the catchments in the past two days. The district received 323 mm on Saturday alone.
The level touched 128.20 feet (as against 136 feet) in the Periyar dam.
The Vaigai dam had 46.39 feet (72 feet) on Sunday. Public Works Department officials have been trying to draw more water from the Periyar dam to keep the level below 136 feet.
Now, 1,645 cusecs have been discharged through pipelines and the Iraichal bridge. The flow into the dam was 1,319 cusecs; the storage was 4,309 mcft.
Turbines on
With TNEB engineers having started operating two of the four power generating turbines in the power house at Lower Camp, drawal from the dam has increased considerably.
Over 600 cusecs have been discharged through two giant pipes for power generation. All the four turbines were paralysed by a technical snag, and power was suspended for over three weeks last month.
The flow into the Vaigai dam has increased to 2,121 cusecs from 1,347 cusecs on Thursday. The storage was 1,554 mcft.
Now, 1,891 cusecs, including 1,850 cusecs for irrigation and 41 cusecs for drinking water supply, has been released.
The early onset of northeast monsoon has offered a ray of hope to farmers in the rain-fed areas. Agriculture Department officials plan to boost rain-fed crop production.
Rainfall recorded at various places on Sunday morning (in mm): Thekkadi 9, Uthamapalayam 16, Gudalur 30, Shanmuganadhi 10, Veerapandi 15 and the Vaigai dam 3.
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