Sudden discharge from dam

Sudden discharge of a large quantum of water from Palar-Porundhalar dam poses a grave threat to maintaining drinking water supply to Palani town.

Because of the sudden release, water level has gone down to 26.3 feet from 30.27 feet a week ago. Officials of the Palani municipality expressed a grave concern over poor storage in the dam, which is the main drinking water source to major parts of the town.

They said that Porundharlar dam waters had been meeting the growing demands of 15 wards in Palani town, Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple and two educational institutions. The sudden discharge would create an artificial water scarcity in the town. The municipality would be forced to depend on tanker lorries to supply water to wards on a turn basis. Such a measure would involve huge expenditure, the officials said.

Public Works Department (PWD) officials did not give a proper reason for the sudden discharge of water into the river. But PWD sources said that the water level was reduced in order to undertake rehabilitation work in the dam. A fund of Rs.3.5 crore had been sanctioned for rehabilitation work and strengthening the bunds. The water level had to be reduced to undertake the work, they added.