Rain raises water level in Sothuparai dam by 10 feet

Manjalar dam records a two-foot increase in 24 hours

If the trend of rapid increase in water level continues for two more days, Sothuparai dam will surplus after a gap of three years.

Water level went up by 10 feet in Sothuparai dam and two ft in Manjalar dam in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, owing to sharp showers in the catchment areas and Kodaikanal hills.

The level in Sothuparai dam stood at 98 feet (total height 126 ft) with an inflow of 126 cusecs and nil discharge. If this trend continues for two more days, the dam will surplus after a gap of three years. The dam site recorded a rainfall of 92 mm. In Manjalar dam, the level was 42 ft.

Water level has been increasing steadily in Vaigai and Periyar dams too for the past four days. Vaigai dam received a rainfall of 7 mm.

If the combined Periyar credit crossed 4,000 mcft mark, Public Works Department officials will recommend to the government release of water from Periyar dam for irrigation of the second crop in the double-cropping area of Cumbum valley.

Already, farmers in the valley have started preliminary work. With available water, farmers in Gudalur and Cumbum have raised nurseries for transplantation. Intermittent showers also encouraged farmers in rain-fed area to start preparing the fields.

Ploughing is in full swing in many places. Agriculture department officials are confident that the total cultivated area under dry crops would increase sizeably this year.

Several places in Dindigul experienced moderate showers. Dindigul city and nearby areas witnessed slight rainfall in the evening.

There was a copious inflow into Kodaikanal lake owing to heavy downpour in its catchments.