Water from Vaigai dam to be released for three days for Madurai

Devanathan Veerappan | TNN | May 25, 2020, 16:20 IST

Vaigai dam (File photo)

MADURAI: Public works department officials have decided to release water from the Vaigai dam at 6pm on Monday to increase the drinking water supply to Madurai city.
Officials said that 216 MLD (million litres a day) of water will be released for three days. On day one, 1,000 cusecs of water will be released, which will be followed by 850 cusecs on day two and 300 cusecs on day three.
Usually, water is released for the grand entry of Lord Kallalagar into the Vaigai river in the month of April-May every year. As Chithirai festival was cancelled this year, water was not released. While the dam can hold water up to 72 feet, currently the water level stands at 41.88 feet.
Last time, during this time, water level in the dam was at 35.91. However, officials say the water level will come down in the dam by five feet once water is released for three days.
Meanwhile, Mullaperiyar dam’s water level stood at 112.80 feet. The dam’s capacity is 142 feet. The dam had 112.20 feet water level on the same day last year.
The main source of water for Madurai corporation is Vaigai dam (115 MLD), followed by Cauvery Combined Drinking Water scheme (10 MLD) and infiltration wells (25 MLD). Currently, Madurai corporation is getting only 5 MLD from infiltration wells. “20 MLD of water from infiltration wells will be restored after water from the dam is released. Since water sources have shrunk this year, Madurai corporation is getting only around 125 MLD of water instead of 150 MLD. However, we continue to supply water on alternative days,” an official said.
A few tail-end areas of the district face difficulty in getting water due to reduced pressure in pipeline due to water shortage. The issue will be solved once water availability is increased and more water would be supplied to the 28 added areas of Madurai corporation, he added.
Apart from Madurai Corporation, there are many village panchayats and municipalities in Madurai and Dindigul districts that receive more water through infiltration wells.