MADURAI: The discharge of surplus water from the Vaigai dam started on Monday morning following heavy rain in the catchment areas in the last two days.

The Public Works Department started releasing the entire inflow of 2085 cusecs from 6.15 a.m. as soon as the level touched 69 feet. (full level 71 feet).

When the inflow was 8035 cusecs at 4.p.m., the discharge was stepped up proportionately.

The dam was on the verge of overflowing in the first week of this month. The department avoided surplussing, stopping the discharge from the Periyar dam and discharged water for irrigation. Surplus water from the dam is being released for the second consecutive year.

The level in the Periyar dam rose by four feet and it was just 3.7 feet short of surplussing. The level stood at 132.3 feet at 4 p.m. (The permissible level is 136 feet.) If the present inflow of 4942 cusecs continues, the dam would surplus in a couple of days, sources said.

However, the PWD has decided not to discharge water from the dam.

"There is water everywhere in the Periyar-Vaigai basin. Besides, there was not much demand for water for irrigation. With all tanks in the region, including the bigger ones such as the Ramnad Big tank, the Sakkarakottai tank and the R.S. Mangalam tank (all with a capacity of more than 500 mcft) almost brimming, we cannot discharge Periyar water into Vaigai dam, which is already overflowing," a PWD engineer said.

With more showers likely in the Periyar catchment areas, the dam is expected to surplus for the second time this year.

Rainfall recorded

Tekkadi recorded the highest rainfall of 91 mm, followed by Gudalur 55, Periyar dam 43, Shanmuganadi 40, Uthamapalayam 32, Sothuparai dam 30, Marudanadi 20, Idayapatti 15, Viraghanoor 12, Sittampatti 11, Veerapandi, Pulipatti, Sattaiyar dam and Melur 10 mm each, Thaniyamangalam 9.8, Mettupatti 8.5, Vaigai dam 5, Andipatti (Madurai) 4, and Peranai 1 mm.

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