As the storage level in all dams in this district is in a precarious position, release of water for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation on June 1 seems unlikely.
Whenever the storage level in Papanasam and Manimuthar dams is comfortable and there are signs of early onset of southwest monsoon, water for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation, the first crop season of every year in the district, would be released from the dams on June 1. However, the monsoon continues to play spoilsport for the past five years so that water could not be released on this day.
The situation is not much encouraging this year as the Papanasam dam has only 51.30 feet of water as against its maximum capacity of 143 feet and the Manmuthar dam has the water level of 67.59 feet on Tuesday against the maximum level of 118 feet. There is no significant rainfall in the catchment areas as the flow of water into these two dams is just 163 cusecs and 3 cusecs respectively. There is no sign of early onset of southwest monsoon that used to bring copious flow of water into these dams.
While flow of water into prime irrigation dams like Papanasam and Manimuthar, the major source of drinking water for Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and even a part of Virudhunagar districts, is small, flow of water is almost nil in other dams like Ramanadhi, Gadana, Karuppanadhi, Adavinainar, Vadakku Pachchaiyaar and Kodumudiyaar.
Though the recent low-pressure triggered rain in the Western Ghats improved the storage level to some extent, the water level did not increase to the ‘comfortable level’ so that the Public Works Department, which would recommend to the government for release of water on June 1, is unlikely to send a positive proposal this year.
“As of now, there is no sign of rain in catchment areas… If the southwest monsoon becomes active along the Western Ghats, especially in the catchment areas, the situation may change. Presently, there is no chance for release of water from Papanasam dam. Since Manimuthar dam has 67 feet water, it is up to the government to decide the release of water for the benefit of farmers having lands in the vicinity of the reservoir,” said a PWD official here on Tuesday.
