Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032153600300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Level in Periyar, Vaigai dams up

Staff Reporter

Heavy flow in many falls and rivers

Shanmuga river dam receives 71 mm
Normal life paralysed in Dindigul

THENI: Torrential showers that lashed the district and the catchments of Periyar dam last night has increased the storage level sharply in Periyar and Vaigai dams. Water level was nearing total capacity in Manjalar dam, thanks to the showers on Kodaikanal hill.

The level in Periyar dam rose to 118.20 feet, up by 1.7 feet, compared to the previous day’s level of 116.5 feet. However, the inflow in to the dam has touched 3,542 cusecs from 2,083 cusecs on Tuesday. With no discharge, the storage level has been increasing steadily in the past three days. However, rainfall at the dam site was moderate.

The level in the Vaigai dam has increased by two feet in the past two days. The level in the dam scaled up sharply to 64 feet, up by one foot, thanks to the heavy inflow in to the dam and torrential showers in different places, particularly on Varushanadu hill, main catchments of the dam. Forty-one cusecs has been discharged from the dam for drinking water supply to Madurai city. However, the dam received a good rain.

The flow was heavy in Kottakudi, Mullai Periyar and Vaigai Rivers.

All most all towns and nearby areas in the district had received torrential showers since Thursday morning. The rain stopped temporarily in the evening. Once again, Shanmuga river dam has received 71 mm rain, the highest in the district, followed by Uthamapalayam which recorded 63 mm.

Rain fall recorded at various places in the district (in mm): Periyar - 19, Tekkadi - 43, Goodalur - 29, Uthamapalayam - 63, Shanmuga Nadhi dam - 71, Veerapandi - 36 and Vaigai dam - 22.

Dindigul

Berijam and Kodaikanal lakes have been overflowing owing to torrential showers on Kodaikanal hill. The flow was heavy in Silver Cascade falls and Shola falls, Moolayar and Pazhayaru rivers. Inflow in to several dams in Palani taluk has gone up sharply.

Dindigul, Chinnalapatti, Peranai, Nilakottai and Batlagundu received heavy down pour in the morning and Ambathurai, Palani and Oddanchatram recorded moderate showers.

Normal life was paralysed owing to incessant rain in Dindigul.