Chennai, July 16 (BPNS)
The Water resources officials of Tamil Nadu are expecting the Kerala side to allow the Siruvani dam touch the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) which is 50 feet. Incessant rains at the catchment area of the dam which is situated in deep forests in Palakkad district of Kerala have led to increase in water levels in the dam.
The dam is situated in Palakkad in deep forests between Kalladikodan and Muthikulam hills and heavy rains have been continuously lashing in the area for the past couple of days.
It is to be noted that the water from Siruvani dam is the main source of drinking water for the Coimbatore municipal corporation. As per an inter-state water agreement between Kerala and Tamil Nadu of 1973, Kerala has to supply 1.30 TMC annually from July 1 to June 30th the next year to Tamil Nadu for a period of 99 years.
According to Tamil Nadu Water Resources department sources, Kerala for the past seven years has not allowed water in Siruvani dam touch the FRL and has been discharging water when it touches 45 feet. An official with the water resources department also told IANS that whenever there were incessant rains in the catchment area, Kerala used to open the dam when the water level touches 45 feet.
Lowering of water level by 5 feet results in a shortage of 122.05 MCFT, which is 19 percent of the dam’s storage and makes it difficult for the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation to cater to the drinking water needs of the city.
Tamil Nadu Water resources department sources told BPNS that at present the water level in the dam is 40.34 feet as of Saturday and officials said that they are expecting the water level to rise above 45 feet in the coming days.
