Siruvani Eagerly Waiting For Monsoon
South-West Monsoon is yet to announce its arrival in a big way over Siruvani Dam and the catchment. Yet, there is optimism in the Coimbatore Corporation that things will improve next week. And, this seeks to mask the concern in the city and the suburbs over expectations of heavy rain having been belied so far. Coimbatore is normally happy during June-August if South West Monsoon brings heavy rain in Kerala. But, reports from the neighbouring Palakkad District are not very encouraging. The third week of June is over and the monsoon is yet make an impact on the water situation, local bodies that are dependent on this scheme point out. The monsoon had been expected to set in over the catchment in the first week of this month. Apart from a few spells, there are not many heartening reports of heavy rain.
But, water managers in the Coimbatore Corporation are not very worried. The monsoon turned vigorous only in the last week of June last year and the gains are still being enjoyed in the form of a comfortable storage, they say. Following heavy rain last year, water overflowed from the dam as early as on July 8. The dam recorded 1,036 mm rain in June last year (see table). But, this year, rainfall has been largely single digit till June 8.
There was no rain from June 1 to 4. After two mm on June 5, there was no rain the following day. Rainfall got into double digits from June 9, but the heaviest yet is 60 mm (on June 15). The next noticeable downpour was on June 12 (54 mm). Asked if this spells trouble, water supply officials in the Corporation say that things can improve if the monsoon turns vigorous in the last week of this month. They point out that the dam recorded very heavy rain after June 20 last year. It recorded 320 mm and 140 mm on June 23 and 24 respectively.
After a brief weak spell, it was 90 mm on June 29 and 140 mm the next day. July 1 and 2 recorded 170 mm and 160 mm respectively, followed by 75 mm and 60 mm the next two days. This had ensured a rapid rise in the water level in the dam, leading to the overflow on July 8. Therefore, the Corporation is optimistic that the dull phase now may give way to one of heavy rain at the dam.
The water level as on Friday (June 20) is better than the one on the same day last year, they say. It is 32 ft as against the full reservoir level of 67 ft. It was 24 ft on the same day last year. As a result, the quantum of water drawn for the city is maintained around 70 million litres a day. Going by the heavy spells from the third week of June last year, the Corporation is optimistic of continuing with the current supply.
