Steady Flow At Siruvani Dam
The Coimbatore Corporation is neither too happy nor too upset at the water level in the Siruvani Dam. It is, rather, forced to remain content with what the South West Monsoon can offer at the moment and make the best use of it in terms of drinking water supply. For nearly a month, the water level has remained at 55 ft, as against the full reservoir level of 67.44 ft. Despite poor rainfall causing doubts over the possibility of an overflow this year, Mayor R. Venkatachalam points at some moderate spells over the last few days to express optimism that it may happen this year also. “The setting in of the monsoon had been delayed,” he explains. “So, rain may continue even after the normal monsoon withdrawal time of September-end,” he says.
The Mayor says the Corporation continues to get 70-75 million litres of water a day from the Siruvani Dam only because there is a steady rainfall, though it is between low and moderate. “What enables the water level to remain at 55 ft, despite the daily drawal, is the steady inflow through the falls,” says the Mayor.
Water overflowing from the Mukthikulam in the catchments is saving the city and the suburbs from scarcity. There has been a gradual improvement since September 11, says the Mayor. From 57.57 ft that day, the water level has risen by a foot. The rainfall from September 11 to 16 is 35 mm, 7 mm, 25 mm, 14 mm, 10 mm and 7 mm.
