The water level in the Vaigai Dam, a crucial water source for five districts in southern Tamil Nadu, has increased significantly in recent weeks. This rise comes as a relief following worries of water scarcity due to a weak southwest monsoon. The dam, located near Andipatti in Theni district, supplies water to Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts.
Last month, the water level had plummeted to 20 feet, sparking concerns of a severe drinking water crisis in the dependent regions. This decline also raised uncertainties about irrigation prospects for the ongoing agricultural season. However, the situation has improved with moderate rainfall in the catchment areas of the Mullaperiyar Dam.
As a result of increased inflows into Mullaperiyar, authorities have released 300 cubic feet per second of water into the Vaigai Dam. This gradual replenishment has boosted the dam’s storage, despite the persisting weak monsoon conditions. Currently, the water level in the Vaigai Dam stands at 34 feet, a significant recovery from the previous month’s low levels.
Public Works Department (PWD) officials have confirmed that the current storage is adequate to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply to the dependent regions for the next two months. The rise in reservoir levels has effectively eliminated the immediate threat of drinking water scarcity in the five districts. However, officials caution that the dam has not yet reached a level where water release for irrigation can resume.
Under normal circumstances, water is released for irrigation in June each year, but this year, such releases are unlikely until storage levels improve further. The decision to release water for irrigation will be contingent on rainfall patterns in the upcoming days. Until then, the focus will remain on safeguarding drinking water supplies for the districts relying on the Vaigai Dam.
