Coimbatore reservoirs near full capacity, surplus water discharged amid heavy rain
Chennai: Major water reservoirs in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district are rapidly approaching their full storage capacities following relentless rainfall under the influence of an active Southwest Monsoon.
With waterbodies receiving substantial inflows, authorities have begun discharging surplus water through dam shutters, prompting precautionary measures in low-lying areas.
The Pillur Dam, located near Mettupalayam and a key source of drinking water for Coimbatore, is on the verge of touching its full reservoir level (FRL) of 100 feet for the second time this year.
A significant increase in inflow saw the dam's water level surge from 82 feet on Sunday to 97 feet by Monday, marking a 15-foot rise in just 24 hours due to heavy rainfall in its catchment areas. In response, surplus water is being released through all four shutters, with the current discharge volume exceeding 14,000 cusecs into the Bhavani River.
Authorities have issued a flood alert to residents living near the riverbanks. Police and local officials in Mettupalayam have urged the public to stay away from the river and avoid activities such as bathing or washing clothes in the flowing waters.
Simultaneously, the Siruvani Dam, situated in Kerala and another critical drinking water source for Coimbatore, is also nearing its Restricted Water Storage Level. The dam's water level rose from 39 feet on Saturday to 43.13 feet by Monday, following three days of significant rainfall in its catchment areas, which received 22 mm, 70 mm, and 147 mm of precipitation, respectively.
Although the dam's full reservoir level is 49.53 feet, the Kerala Irrigation and Water Resources Department mandates the release of surplus water once the level approaches 44.61 feet, the restricted limit.
Accordingly, dam authorities began releasing excess water on Monday as a preventive measure. Currently, 99.76 million litres per day (MLD) is being drawn from the Siruvani Dam and distributed to over seven villages and more than 20 wards under the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC). This figure is close to the agreed supply quota of 101.4 MLD.
With continued monsoon activity predicted in the coming days, district authorities remain on high alert and are closely monitoring all major reservoirs to prevent flooding and ensure uninterrupted water supply to the region.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
11 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Retaining wall of Sengulam Tank in Coimbatore is ready, says CCMC chief
COIMBATORE: With the southwest monsoon already setting in, residents of Kuniyamuthur and nearby localities have urged the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) to expedite the remaining construction works along the Sengulam Tank. The 265-acre tank, near Kuniyamuthur, has frequently caused flooding in adjacent neighbourhoods during monsoon seasons. It poses a threat to nearby residential areas if protective measures are not completed on time. Recognising the risk, the CCMC initiated a Rs 15-crore project under the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure and Development Fund (TNUIDF) to construct a 1.85-kilometre-long retaining wall along the tank's western bund. The project also includes the laying of a tar road from Netaji Nagar in Kulathupalayam to the Kuniyamuthur-Sundakkamuthur Road, along with the installation of 120 streetlights. These developments are expected to significantly benefit over 3,500 residents, including those living in the 720 tenements built by the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board in Ward 91. "In the past, we have suffered so much during the rains. Water from the tank would gush into our streets. We hope this time, the new wall and road will protect our homes," said M Rajalakshmi, a resident of Kulathupalayam.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Rain triggers landslides at several places in Himachal; orange alert issued
The first spell of Southwest monsoon which reached Himachal Pradesh on Friday triggered landslides at several places. The local Met office on Friday issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places on June 22, 23, 25 and 26. Traffic on the Dharmshala-Chataro-Gaggal road was halted due to a landslide, and officials are currently engaged in road-clearing operations, officials said. Reports also emerged of water logging at the Shahid Inder Singh Middle School in Pandoh, which caused inconvenience for students. The Met Office issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rains in isolated parts of the state on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and a yellow warning for heavy rains in isolated areas on Tuesday. Some parts of Shimla witnessed power outages along with landslide with many roads getting blocked in Kangra district. In Shimla, power outages were reported in several areas, with residents complaining of no electricity for the past 10 hours as of Friday morning. The affected areas include Kanlog, Sanjauli, and nearby localities. Residents of these areas said that the power supply was disrupted around midnight, and repeated calls to the local electricity department went unanswered. Landslide was reported in Jutogh Cantt area in Shimla. A four-wheeler was completely damaged after coming under the landslide here. Meanwhile, the electricity supply which had gone out around 12 midnight was only restored around 1pm on Friday. The weather department said that the arrival of Southwest Monsoon over Himachal Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy rainfall activity very likely over parts of plains/low hills and adjoining mid hills during 20th to 25th June, 2025. The Southwest Monsoon has set in over Himachal Pradesh and covered some parts of the state including Shimla, on Friday. During last 24 hours, heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning reported at isolated places of the state with moderate rainfall at few places of the state. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest monsoon over remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh during next 2 days. In view of the advancement of Southwest Monsoon over Himachal Pradesh, weather department said that fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over many parts of low hills/plains & adjoining mid hills and light to moderate rainfall over some parts of the high & adjoining mid hills of the state during 20th to 25th June, 2025 with peak intensity on June 22 and June 25. Vipin Kumar, Sub-Divisional Officer, electricity department, said, 'A power panel has developed a technical snag due to increased moisture in the environment during the ongoing rain. It will take some time to repair the panel. Many of its wires have been affected by carbon deposits. We need to repair all the wires and then dry them using small boilers.'Shimla electricity officer Lokesh Thakur admitted there was an issue. 'There is a fault in the main electricity line supplying power to Kanlog, near the Central Potato Research Institute building. Our staff is working to fix the issue. The rain has made the restoration work more challenging. Electricity supply has been restored in some parts of Sanjauli. Our staff members are on the job,' he added.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Rainy week ahead across country, barring Northwest India: IMD
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Friday said the entire country, except Northwest India, will experience moderate to heavy rainfall till Wednesday. This is because the Southwest Monsoon is currently active in addition to the development of multiple favourable weather systems. A well-marked low-pressure system is present over Northeast Jharkhand, and its north-westward movement will cause heavy rainfall (64.5 mm – 115 mm in 24 hours) over Bihar till Wednesday, over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during Sunday to Tuesday, and over Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday, IMD indicated. Rainfall activity over the west coast will continue through early next week, with moist winds from the Arabian Sea attracted by the presence of an offshore trough extending between the Konkan region and Kerala. The Met department has warned of heavy rainfall over Gujarat, Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Goa, and coastal Karnataka till Wednesday and over Kerala and Mahe from Sunday to Wednesday. Very heavy rainfall (115 mm – 204 mm in 24 hours) is likely over Madhya Maharashtra on Friday and over Gujarat on Sunday and Monday, the IMD said. With the latest advance of the monsoon realised on Thursday, the northern limit of the monsoon passes through Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Sonbhadra, and Ballia. According to the IMD, favourable conditions will further propel the monsoon into more parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad as well as Punjab during the next two to three days. 'The Southwest Monsoon is likely to cover the remaining areas of India during June 26-July 2,' the IMD said. If realised, this will be an early advance into the entire country before its normal date of July 6-8. Since June 1, rainfall of 82.6 mm has been reported across India, marking a deficit of 5 per cent.
