Thanks to frequent technical snags in power generators
THENI: With the storage level touching 134.60 feet in the Periyar dam on Wednesday, 1.4 feet below the prescribed level of 136 feet, Public Works Department officials are struggling to draw more water from the dam, thanks to frequent technical snags in power generators.
Farmers are worried about possible drain of huge quantum of water into sea.
The inflow to the dam was 4,965 cusecs and the discharge was 1,899 cusecs only. If this trend continued, the water level would cross 136 feet within a day and the excess inflow would drain into sea, they said.
Frequent repairs in power generators at lower camp are the main hurdle in drawing more water from dam as four pipes, connected with powerhouse, could draw 400 cusecs each. One turbine was completely paralysed for many decades. Three other turbines could generate power far less than its capacity as they were burnt more than five times and valves broken twice.
Now, the power generation was far below the total capacity of 140 MW, said the farmers. Slump in power generation would automatically reduce drawal from the dam.
Repeated appeals to repair turbines and enhance power generation to draw more water were in vain.
Only alternative was Iraichal bridge where 1,300 cusecs could be drawn. But PWD officials had a bitter experience when they drew huge quantum of water during the last rainy season. (The ghat road connecting Theni and Kumuli and parapat wall of Iraichal bridge were washed away and the Government spent over Rs.87 lakh for repair works.).
Farmers urged the Government to draw more water or implement SC order to raise the storage level to 142.
Five District Farmers’ Association, in a fax message to the Chief Minister, appealed him to stop Kerala from asking adjournments further in the Periyar dam case and take all efforts to complete the case quickly.
(The case is coming up for hearing on July 23.) Already, five TMC water had been drained into sea last year, owing to delay in executing SC order.
The level stood at 46.16 feet in Vagai dam with an inflow of 1,542 cusecs. Discharge was 791 cusecs. Periyar recorded 31 mm rain, Thekkadi and Shanmuganadhi received 16 mm and 2 mm rain and no rain in other areas.
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