THENI
With the onset of northeast monsoon, large parts of Theni district have been receiving generous rains for the past few days. Especially, the interior catchments in the Western Ghats and the plains abutting the mountain ranges have been receiving rainfall almost every day.
Manjalaru, Periyakulam, Gudalur, Uthamapalaym, Vaigai Dam and Sothuparai have been receiving good amount of rainfall since Saturday. Even drier areas like Andipatti and Aranmanaipudur received moderate rainfall.
Rains on Meghamalai and Varusanadu hills have resulted in water flow in the otherwise dry Moola Vaigai river. Seen bone-dry for a longer part of the year, the river has been seen carrying water for the past couple of days.
The falls at Kombaithozhu above Varusanadu, in the middle ranges of Meghamalai, where the Moola Vaigai originates, was also in spate on Saturday and Sunday. Similarly, Suruli and Kumbakarai falls have been receiving an increased flow.
The Mullai river swelled up in Uthamapalayam and Veerapandi, keeping people away from the river.
Subsequently, the inflow and storage levels in various dams in the district have gone up, bringing cheers among farmers. Sothuparai dam has already been overflowing after touching its full storage capacity of 126.44 feet and the inflow and outflow are maintained at 78 cusecs.
Water level in Shanmuganadhi dam has also increased by six feet in 10 days. On October 10, the level was 41.60 feet and on Sunday, the level touched 47.50 feet with almost just five feet to reach its full capacity.
The level in Manjalar dam went up to 47.60 feet from 42 feet. The inflow to Periyar dam has been quite steady recently. Water was released from the dam in three phases for irrigation in single and double-crop areas in Theni, Dindigul, Madurai and Sivaganga districts.
Water released from Periyar dam has been filling Vaigai dam.
