Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Rain widespread, storage poor

By S.Vydhianathan

CHENNAI NOV. 9. Despite widespread rain, the storage in various reservoirs in the State has not improved substantially. In 16 out of 19 major reservoirs, it is less than 50 per cent of their total capacity. In the others too, the level is not satisfactory.

According to PWD officials, the poor storage is the result of deficient rainfall in the catchment areas during the last southwest monsoon.

In the Mettur reservoir, lifeline of Cauvery delta farmers, the storage is 29.02 tmcft as against the total capacity of 93.4 tmcft. In the Bhavanisagar, it is 8.42 tmcft (total capacity of 32.8 tmcft), in Amaravathi, it is 2.065 tmcft (4.047 tmcft).

However, the situation is comfortable in Coimbatore district, where the storage is sufficient in major reservoirs. It is 5.04 tmcft in Parambikulam, 1.25 tmcft in Aliyar and 1.549 tmcft in Thirumurthy as against their total capacity of 13.4, 3.86 and 1.74 respectively.

In the Periyar and Vaigai reservoirs, which meet the irrigation needs of the erstwhile composite Madurai district, the storage is only 2.94 and 3.03 tmcft (full capacity of 10.57 and 6.091 tmcft).

The position is no better in the Papanasam and Manimuthar reservoirs in Tirunelveli district. In Papanasam, it is 2.82 tmcft (5.5 tmcft) and in Manimuthar, it is 1.64 tmcft (5.5 tmcft).

In the Pechiparai and Perunchani reservoirs, in the southernmost tip of the State, the storage is less than 50 per cent of capacity. It is 1.64 tmcft (4.45 tmcft) in Pechiparai and 1.30 tmcft (2.89 tmcft) in Perunchani.

But a redeeming feature, according to officials here, is that the catchment areas have been experiencing heavy rain for the past two days, and so the inflows into reservoirs may improve in the coming weeks. Moreover, the ongoing heavy spell of rain has relieved drinking water scarcity in many parts of the State.

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