The water level in the three major dams in Thrissur district has dipped alarmingly, posing problems in drinking water distribution and irrigation.
The Peechi, Chimoni, and Vazhani dams in the district have recorded low water levels compared to previous years. The water level in the Peechi reservoir was put at 66.50 m on Thursday, which is 10.51% of the storage capacity.
Dam officials say it is the lowest water level recorded in July in the past 10 years. The water level in the beginning of July last year was 71.58 m.
The officials attributed the situation to the drought-like situation in the catchment areas.
Built across the Manali river, the Peechi reservoir serves the irrigation and drinking water needs of the district. The water authority draws around 5.5 cr litres of water a day from Peechi for drinking water distribution in Thrissur Corporation and 10 adjacent panchayats. It also irrigates 3,000 hectare of agriculture land in and around the city.
The water level in the Chimoni dam, an irrigation dam constructed across the Kurumaly river, a tributary of the Karivannur river, was 50.52 m on Thursday, which is 12.34 % of the total capacity.
Plea to release water
As the shutters have been closed with the delay in the monsoon, there is no water in the Kurumaly river. Farmers on the banks of the river are in distress as their crops are facing acute shortage of water.
They are demanding that water be released from the dam of irrigation. Farmers say this is one of the lowest water level recorded in the reservoir after it was commissioned in 1996.
The situation is no different at the Vazhani dam. Built across the Wadakkanchery river with clay, the water in the reservoir is used for drinking and irrigation purposes. The present water level at the dam is 47.10 m, which is 12.47 % of the storage capacity.
