The Hindu : Front Page : Periyar dam discharge stepped up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Periyar dam discharge stepped up

Staff Reporter

— FILE PHOTO: K. GANESAN.

LIFELINE: A view of the Periyar dam.

THENI: Discharge from the Periyar dam has been stepped up to 1,200 cusecs, thanks to moderate inflow and heavy rain in the catchments. (Discharge was only 550 cusecs on Monday.)

Public Works Department officials have strengthened the bunds of the temporary canal with sand bags to discharge huge flow into the river.

The construction of a checkdam at the head works of 18th canal scheme is almost over and the installation of shutters is in progress.

After a gap of 11 months, hydro-electric power station at Lower Camp at Goodalur has started generating 96 MW, utilising the huge discharge from the dam. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board engineers have worked several months to rectify a technical snag. All the four 35-MW power-generating turbines were kept ready by June-end.

The four generators were completely paralysed in June 2007 and PWD engineers solely depended on the Iraichal Bridge to release water for irrigation to the Cumbum valley during the last season as all turbines connected with giant pipes used to release water directly from the dam.

Transplantation is over in Goodalur, Cumbum and Angoorpalayam areas in the Cumbum valley and is in full swing in other areas. Despite sufficient water, shortage of fertilizer has been haunting paddy growers.

The district administration has set up a special investigation cell to monitor sale of fertilizers. Agriculture officials said that 1,254 tonnes of DAP had been sold in June.

“Still we have a stock of 485 tonnes for distribution in July. Orders have already been placed to maintain fertilizer supply till July-end,” they added.

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

Front Page