Date:05/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110510020300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Dindigul

Comfortable storage in dams of Dindigul district

Staff Reporter

Athoor dam almost full; heavy rain in Kodaikanal No difficulty in maintaining water supply to the town: officials

NEARING THE BRINK: Athoor dam brimming with water. — Photo: G. Karthikeyan

DINDIGUL: Moderate rain to mild showers was recorded in most of the places, except Kodaikanal, in the district. All dams in the district have a comfortable storage.

Kodaikanal hill received a heavy down pour for the past four days consecutively.

The Athoor dam, the lifeline of Dindigul and Chinnalapatti towns and 17 wayside villages, has almost reached its full capacity. The present storage in the dam was 142 mcft against the total capacity 158.79 mcft.

Municipal councillors and officials visited the Athoor dam and the Peranai at Nilakottai, another major drinking water source to Dindigul, and assessed the storage position.

The municipality would not find any difficulty in maintaining drinking water supply to the town, officials said.

Meanwhile, farmers have diverted the water to irrigation tanks at villages near the dam.

Dindigul, Batlagundu, Sempatti and other parts of the district experienced sharp showers on Saturday evening.

Storage levels in all major dams in the district have almost reached its total capacity. Following is the level (in mcft) in dams in the district: Palar Porundhalar dam - 749.14, Varadhamanadhi dam - 91.13, Kudirayar dam - 157.45, Parappalar dam - 77.5, Kudaganar dam - 24.65, Marudhanadhi dam - 175 and Kamarajar dam 142.

The chief amount of rainfall recorded at various places in the district (in mm): Dindigul - 5, Nilakottai - 4, Natham - 6, Chatrapatti - 7.1, Palani - 16, Kodaikanal Observatory - 18.75 and Kodaikanal Observatory 32.5.

Total rainfall in the district was 51.25 mm.

Theni

In many areas rain slowed down which also slowed down increase in levels in major dams in Theni district.

The water level in Periyar dam stood at 133.30 feet with an inflow of 3,048 cusecs and a discharge of 1,787 cusecs.

Despite comfortable inflow, the level in Vaigai dam too has not raised sharply. Now, the dam has 66.22 feet of water with an inflow of 2,993 cusecs and a discharge of 1,841 cusecs.

(The first flood warning was issued at 8 p.m. on Friday night as the level touched the 66-feet mark.)

While Periyar dam recorded 2 mm rainfall, Goodalur registered 3 mm, Shanmuganadhi 5 mm and Veerapandi 3 mm.