Pointing out that the present water availability in Vaigai dam could meet the drinking water needs of Madurai district only for the next 25 days, Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao said that the district was monitoring the situation closely and making all efforts to mitigate the drinking water crisis.
Speaking at the monthly farmers’ grievance meeting here on Friday, Mr. Rao said that Madurai Corporation, Usilampatti municipality, the town panchayats of Vadipatti and Elumalai, and 320 villages in the district were facing a critical situation regarding drinking water.
“Last year, the water availability in Vaigai dam at this time was 597 mcft. This year, it is only 379 mcft now,” he said.
He, however, said that the situation was being monitored meticulously on a daily basis and all possible options were being explored to address the situation.
He said that the measures being taken included sinking of necessary number of borewells in places identified to have good groundwater table, to supply water to Madurai Corporation and other critically affected areas.
Though the rainfall in January and February were far below than average, Mr. Rao said that the rainfall received so far in March has given hope that the district may receive more than the average amount of rainfall expected in summer.
“The normal rainfall for March is 20.60 mm. However, we have already received 84.88 mm of rainfall in the district till now this month,” he said. He appealed to the public to save drinking water wherever possible.
