Water level in Periyar dam on Monday reached 117.1 feet, an increase of one foot in the last 24 hours, bringing cheers to farmers in Cumbum valley and making panchayat officials heave a sigh of relief over drinking water management.
However, PWD officials restricted the discharge to 100 cusecs to meet the drinking water needs and improve storage in the dam.
Inflow to the dam was 1,977 cusecs, and storage 2,105 mcft.
The officials have recommended release of water for irrigation of the first crop in the double-crop area in Cumbum valley.
They have been expediting the work on laying concrete floor in one of the 17 supply channels in Chinnamanur and Uthamapalyam to avoid wastage. Intermittent showers disrupted the work.
Water could be released only after completion of the work as it was the main channel covering a sizable area in the valley, they said.
The level in Vaigai dam reduced to 28.38 feet from 28.54 feet owing to poor inflow and lack of rain in catchment areas.
Storage in the dam was 309 mcft. Inflow to the dam was 14 cusecs and discharge 60 cusecs.
Rainfall
Periyar dam received 17 mm rainfall, Thekkadi 12 mm, Gudalur 4 and Uthamapalayam 2.4.
