The Sothuparai dam near Periyakulam has been overflowing for the last 15 days continuously, thanks to intermittent showers on the Kodaikanal hill and in the dam site.
The entire inflow of 100 cusecs has been discharged into the river as the storage level crossed its total capacity of 126 feet.
After four decades, the dam has been overflowing during peak summer. First, the dam surplussed on April 27, owing to torrential summer shower on the Kodaikanal hill. Similarly, inflow to the Manjalar dam too has been increasing steadily owing to rain on the Kodaikanal hill that received 45 mm of rainfall on Tuesday night.
The comfortable storage in the Sothuparai and Manjalar dams will expand paddy cultivation area in Periyakulam and Andipatti blocks. Similarly, good rain throughout the district this summer will be useful for preparing the field for cultivation. Cultivation area especially in rain-fed places will also expand sizably this year, according to agriculture officials.
Dindigul
The mercury level dropped sizably in Dindigul district owing to moderate showers on Tuesday night.
The sky was overcast since morning.
Total amount of rainfall in the district was 176 mm and average was 17.6 mm.
Nilakottai, one of the gray areas of the district, recorded 45 mm of rainfall, highest in the district, followed by Kodaikanal with 43.3 mm.
Rain did not affect tourists’ flow to the hill station.
Arrival of tourists to the hill station had been picking up.
The amount of rainfall recorded at various places in the district in mm was: Natham 3.5, Nilakottai 45, Palani 15, Vedasandur 5.9, Chatrapatti 15.1 Dindigul 3.8, Vedasandur Tobacco Research Station 6.4, Kodaikanal Boat Club 31 and Kamatchipuram 7.
Like Dindigul and Theni, many southern districts, including Madurai, parts of Tirunelveli (Vallanad), Tuticorin and Kanyakumari also experienced showers. Normally, during this time of the year, the temperature would be high and as a result air-conditioners may be essential in many houses, residents said, but the cool weather had come as a blessing.
