The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Permission sought for Vaigai water release

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Permission sought for Vaigai water release

By S. Sundar

MADURAI, JUNE 22. The dry Vaigai riverbed, serving 28 combined drinking water projects in Madurai and Dindigul districts, is to be given a wetting to recharge infiltration wells soon.

A proposal seeking government permission to release water from the Vaigai dam to irrigate the double crop area and for river wetting has been sent by the Public Works Department. The river wetting up to Kochadai in Madurai, that will consume around 270 mcft of water, will coincide with the irrigation season.

The lack of wetting for nearly five months now has left the riverbed bone-dry, affecting the water drawing potential of the infiltration wells. Pointing to the lack of surface water flow owing to monsoon failure for three years, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board has requested the PWD for a release of water.

"The combined drinking water projects are pumping out less than 10 per cent of the actual water requirements," an official said.

The last time water flowed on the river was in January, when the PWD released water following request from the Ramanathapuram Collector. However, wetting could not be done beyond Paramakudi owing to insufficient storage in the Vaigai dam. Besides, the annual release of water coinciding with the Chithirai festival too could not be done, as the 150 mcft reserved for the festival was utilised to save the standing crops in the double crop area. The river-wetting done during the peak of the summer helps recharge of infiltration wells.

Meanwhile, farmers in the double crop area have been thronging the PWD office making enquiries about the date of release of water for irrigation. One of the farmers, Maranadu, said the yots started raising nurseries at Kulamangalam, Tiruppalai and Thandalai, with the hope of an early release.

Meanwhile, rainfall in catchment areas has stopped and the flow has dwindled to 1721 cusecs into the Periyar dam. While the total requirement for irrigation is around 9000 mcft (Cumbum valley - 1500 mcft and double crop area - 7500 mcft) the combined Periyar credit today stood at 5171 mcft. However, the officials are hopeful of adequate flow into the Periyar dam.

The level in the Periyar dam stood at 129.80 feet with a discharge of 1750 cusecs. The level in the Vaigai dam was 34.84 feet with an inflow of 1103 cusecs and a discharge of 30 cusecs.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Will reclassification improve financial status?

Terminated employees pin hopes on CM

Permission sought for Vaigai water release

`Reduce IT assessment age limit for senior citizens'

Lawyers observe fast

Interview for TASMAC area supervisors postponed

Around the City

In Madurai Today

Readers' Mail