Abundant storage in Thirumoorthy Dam raises hopes among farmers for water adequacy in tail-end areas of PAP Main Canal
: The early onset of Southwest monsoon this year that has resulted in impressive storage in Thirumoorthy Dam has infused hope among farmers in the tail-end areas of the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Main Canal fed by the dam that there will be a change in the 'artificial drought conditions' caused hitherto by inadequate realisation of water in the canal.
At a recent meeting to discuss the issue, the farmers arrived at a decision to stage prolonged protests if the Water Resource Department fails to channel water to a height of 4.8 feet (from the existing 4.5 feet) at the zero point of Vellakovil branch canal.
Out of 2300 mcft (million cubic feet) drawn from the dam for supply through PAP main canal, the water distribution for Vellakoil branch should be one-eighth. Even if 20% of water transmission loss is factored in, the realisation has to be not less than 230 mcft at the zero point. 'But, the water realisation is only 170 mcft. This is not sufficient. At some locations in tail-end areas, water flow does not last even for two days. There is severe shortage of water for livestock, drinking purpose and irrigation,' P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Movement said.
The farmers hope the Water Resources Department will deploy better water management methods this time around with abundant water in the Thirumoorthy Dam.
Against the full depth of 60 feet, the level in the dam rose up to 53.92 ft on Wednesday. The storage was 1483 mcft against capacity of 1744. Against inflow of 252 cusecs, discharge of 1160 cusecs was maintained. At the same day last year, the level was 31.1 feet and storage was 680 mcft.
Also, the usable storage of the system dams of Parambikulam Aliyar Project was estimated at 7269.92 mcft by the Water Resources Department, on Wednesday.
Official sources said the State Government has been promised funds by the Union Ministry of Jal Sakthi under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). Phase II and III, co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. Thirumoorthy Dam figures among 145 out of 736 dams proposed in the two phases that are more than 60 years old.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Channel to divert surplus water from Ambattur lake to Cooum river
Every Northeast monsoon, people in Korattur and the Ambattur Industrial Estate are forced to endure inundation and power outages for at least four days. To alleviate these recurring issues, a channel will soon be built to divert a portion of surplus water from Ambattur lake to Cooum river. The Water Resources Department (WRD) has kick-started the process of launching a ₹130-crore project to mitigate inundation in the western parts of the city. The work is likely to begin by this month-end. The lack of sufficient culverts along Pattaravakkam railway line to channel surplus water from Ambattur lake led to waterlogging in places such as the Ambattur Industrial Estate. The department had regulated outflows from waterbodies in Avadi, Ambattur, Ayapakkam and Paruthipattu. However, some parts continued to face inundation, officials said. J. Gopalakrishnan, president, Korattur Federation of Residents' Welfare Association said: 'The rainy season is often a nightmare for residents in low-level areas. Rainwater entered several houses on 27th, 28th, and 29th streets and Venkatraman Nagar, and residents suffered without electricity for four days. The channel must be built before the upcoming monsoon to avoid another year of misery.' The WRD is awaiting the Government Order to construct a five-km long channel to carry a portion of surplus water from Cookson Road junction in Ambattur industrial estate to Cooum river near Maduravoyal. The four-metre-wide channel, which would carry about 400 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water, would reduce the burden on other waterways, including Otteri Nullah, and alleviate recurring floods in Korattur and Ambattur Industrial Estate. Surplus water from Ambattur lake otherwise travels through Pattaravakkam and Korattur, and drains into Korattur lake. From there, it flows into Otteri Nullah and Retteri lake through two weirs. Once the channel is built, only about 400 cusecs of rainwater from local catchment would travel through these localities before draining into Korattur lake, officials said. Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel said various other measures were also on the cards. Funds are awaited to desilt and restore Korattur lake, and also improve North Canal in Korattur.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Mettur Dam records sharp rise in water level; 88% reservoir filled
CHENNAI: The Stanley Reservoir in Mettur (commonly known as Mettur Dam), a major source of water in Tamil Nadu, has recorded a sharp increase in its water level this year, thanks to substantial rainfall from the southwest monsoon. As of Sunday, the dam is holding 81,983 million cubic feet (mcft) of water, which is 87.71% of its full capacity of 93,470 mcft. This is a big jump compared to the same period last year when the storage was only 15,632 mcft (just 16.72% of its total capacity). According to the Water Resources Department (WRD) data accessed by TNIE, this is one of the highest water storage levels in the past six years, except in 2022 when the dam had 89,431 mcft of water (95.68%) In a major development, Tamil Nadu has received 305 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of Cauvery water from Karnataka during the previous water year (June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025). This is 128 tmcft more than the 177 tmcft fixed by the Supreme Court.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- The Hindu
Abundant storage in Thirumoorthy Dam raises hopes among farmers for water adequacy in tail-end areas of PAP Main Canal
: The early onset of Southwest monsoon this year that has resulted in impressive storage in Thirumoorthy Dam has infused hope among farmers in the tail-end areas of the PAP (Parambikulam Aliyar Project) Main Canal fed by the dam that there will be a change in the 'artificial drought conditions' caused hitherto by inadequate realisation of water in the canal. At a recent meeting to discuss the issue, the farmers arrived at a decision to stage prolonged protests if the Water Resource Department fails to channel water to a height of 4.8 feet (from the existing 4.5 feet) at the zero point of Vellakovil branch canal. Out of 2300 mcft (million cubic feet) drawn from the dam for supply through PAP main canal, the water distribution for Vellakoil branch should be one-eighth. Even if 20% of water transmission loss is factored in, the realisation has to be not less than 230 mcft at the zero point. 'But, the water realisation is only 170 mcft. This is not sufficient. At some locations in tail-end areas, water flow does not last even for two days. There is severe shortage of water for livestock, drinking purpose and irrigation,' P. Velusamy, president of PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Water Conservation Movement said. The farmers hope the Water Resources Department will deploy better water management methods this time around with abundant water in the Thirumoorthy Dam. Against the full depth of 60 feet, the level in the dam rose up to 53.92 ft on Wednesday. The storage was 1483 mcft against capacity of 1744. Against inflow of 252 cusecs, discharge of 1160 cusecs was maintained. At the same day last year, the level was 31.1 feet and storage was 680 mcft. Also, the usable storage of the system dams of Parambikulam Aliyar Project was estimated at 7269.92 mcft by the Water Resources Department, on Wednesday. Official sources said the State Government has been promised funds by the Union Ministry of Jal Sakthi under Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). Phase II and III, co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. Thirumoorthy Dam figures among 145 out of 736 dams proposed in the two phases that are more than 60 years old.
