सोमवार, 1 सितंबर 2008

Water level goes up in major dams

THENI: In the wake of torrential rain in several parts of the district on Saturday night, water level in major dams has gone up considerably. The level at Sothuparai dam on Sunday was 104 feet (total height of the dam is 127 feet).

Heavy rain in Kodaikanal hills scaled up flow into Sothuparai dam considerably. The storage level in Vaigai dam also increased by half a foot to touch 67.52 feet.

However, water level went down to 120 feet in Periyar dam owing to heavy discharge into the Mullaperiyar river (the level was 126.10 feet on Saturday).

But inflow into the dam has increased to 1,665 cusecs, compared to 905 cusecs the previous day. The dam site also received heavy downpour. Public Works Department officials have stepped up discharge to 1,463 cusecs from the dam.

Vaigai dam has been receiving good inflow since Friday. It has gone up to 1,778 cusecs from 1,208 cusecs the previous day.

Second flood warning will be issued to five southern districts from Vaigai dam when the level touches 68.5 feet. Already, Manjalar dam on the foothills of Kodaikanal has water to its brim.

Total rainfall recorded at 8 a.m. in the district in mm: Periyar 37, Thekkadi 3, Gudalur 39.5, Shanmuganadhi dam 2, Uthamapalayam 8, Vagai dam 8 and Veerapandi 7.

With sufficient flow, water level in Varadhamanadhi and Palar Porundhalar dam rose sharply. Even as the power crisis has hit agriculture activities, farmers in rain-fed areas have managed to complete sowing in several parts of the district with the moderate showers in the last one week. “If there had not been intermittent showers, we would not have saved our crops and seedlings would have withered,” said farmers. “We have sufficient water in the wells. But, unfortunately, we cannot use it owing to load shedding.”

Source The Hindu

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