The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Water level up

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Tuesday, Jul 07, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Water level up

Staff Reporter

In Periyar and Vaigai dam; rain after a long time

THENI: With good rain in the catchments after a long time since first week of June, water level in Periyar dam went up by two feet within 48 hours, injecting fresh hope in the minds of farmers as well as villagers in several villages and town panchayats in the district.

Several panchayats and municipalities have been reeling under an acute drinking water crisis.

Water level in the dam touched 111.70 feet on Monday when compared to the level of 109.10 feet on Saturday. Inflow into the dam was increased manifold. With a comfortable inflow of 1,497 cusecs, Public Works engineers have stepped up the release from the dam to 450 cusecs from mere 240 cusecs.

Optimistic farmers who raised nurseries well in advance in Uthamapalayam, Cumbum, Chinnamanur and nearby areas are in jubilant mood over sharp increase in storage level in Periyar dam and minor showers.

With no release from the dam for irrigation, hundreds of acres of cultivable land under river and canal irrigation in Cumbum valley remained barren till date. Farmers who have private wells have started transplantation work in some parts of Uthamapalayam and Chinnamanur.

The PWD officials will think of water release from the dam only when the level crosses 112 feet only, said the farmers.

“We hope that level would cross the required level in a day or two.”

The impact of the onset of southwest monsoon is very visible in several parts of the valley. Already, Uthamapalayam, Goodalur and Shanmuga river dam side have started receiving minor showers in the evening or at night. If this trend continued, farmers would start preparing the field with renewed vigour, officials opined.

Storage level in the Vaigai dam too raised considerably. The level touched 27.03 feet (Saturday level 24.67 feet). Inflow into the dam was 259 cusecs and the discharge 41 cusecs only.

Rainfall recorded at various places in mm at 8 a.m. on Monday was: Periyar Dam 28.6, Thekkadi 21, Goodalur 3.5, Uthamapalayam 1 and Shanmuga River dam 3. No rain was recorded in Vaigai dam, Veerapandi and other parts of the district.

Dindigul

Sky was overcast in Dindigul and other parts of the district since morning. Rainfall was nil in several areas.

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