Periyar dam level raises farmers’ hopes

THENI: Owing to intermittent showers in the catchments, storage level in Periyar Dam has been going up steadily. Water level on Tuesday touched 114.40 feet, crossing 112 feet, the minimum level required for releasing water for irrigation of first crop in the double cropping area of the Cmbum Valley.

Sharp increase in storage level, despite inconsistent flow, enthused farmers in the valley. They hoped that the Public Works Department engineers would recommend water release for irrigation.

The flow into the dam slumped to 1,386 cusecs on Tuesday from 4,545 cusecs on Monday. However, storage level rose to 1,627 mcft against previous day’s storage of 1,509 mcft. Discharge from the dam was just 20 cusecs to meet drinking water needs.

Farmers in the valley are in a jubilant mood as preliminary farm activities are in full swing in several parts of Theni district. Farmers are busy ploughing dry fields and raising nurseries.

Marginal showers in some pockets helped farmers in protecting perennial crops like coconut, sugarcane, mango and grapes and other horticulture crops.

In Dindigul district, Kodaikanal started receiving minor showers on Monday night. There was no rain in other parts of the district.

From THE HINDU

Water level rises in Siruvani Dam

It has risen by nearly six feet over the last couple of days

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore Corporation sounded relieved on Monday with the news that the water level in Siruvani Dam had risen by nearly six feet over the last couple of days.

Rain effect:Siruvani Dam, one of the two main sources of drinking water for Coimbatore city. File Photo: K. Ananthan

“The South-West Monsoon is providing us with fairly good rain over the last three days. We need this to avoid scarcity of drinking water during the World Classical Tamil Conference next week,” Mayor R. Venkatachalam said. The dam recorded 50 mm, 85 mm and 82 mm rain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday respectively. (The recording is till 8.30 a.m. on all these days.) “We got reports of heavy rain throughout the day on Monday also.”

From 12.79 ft (as against the full reservoir level of 50.85 ft) on Saturday the level rose to 18.70 ft at 8.30 a.m. on Monday. “It is still rising as there is good inflow from the falls and streams,” the Mayor said. On June 14 last year, the water level was only 6.79 ft, he said.

The June 10-14 period last year saw the level remaining in the 6.75 ft to 7.5 ft range.

From THE HINDU

Water level in Veeranam tank rising fast

Water level in the Veeranam tank is rising fast and likely to touch the maximum level of 47.5 ft soon. The news has brought cheer to farmers in the catchments, according to K.V. Elangeeran, president, Vettuvaikkal and Naraikkal Eri Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam. In a statement, he said the Vadavar, the feeding canal, was carrying about 2,000 cusecs of water to the tank.

Unlike the previous seasons, when it used to get Mettur water, the entire quantum now was the runoff of rainwater from catchments. It could provide adequate water for irrigation besides meeting drinking water needs of Chennai.

From THE HINDU

Periyar Dam Water Level: Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010

MADURAI: The level in the Periyar dam on Monday stood at 109.60 feet (full level 136 feet) with an inflow of 9 cusecs and a discharge of 175 cusecs.

The level in the Vaigai dam was 37.50 feet (71 feet) with no inflow and a discharge of 60 cusecs.

The combined Periyar credit stood at 524 mcft.

From THE HINDU

Periyar Dam Water Level: Monday, Mar 01, 2010

MADURAI: Water level in the Periyar dam on Sunday stood at 109.70 feet (full level 136 feet). There was no inflow, while there was a discharge of 225 cusecs.

The level in Vaigai dam was 37.60 feet with no inflow and a discharge of 60 cusecs. There was no rainfall, officials said.

From THE HINDU