Monsoon setting over Siruvani catchment area

A cloud cover from the Western Ghats to the city and reports of rain at the neighbouring Palakkad District in Kerala are raising hopes of the South West Monsoon setting in over the Siruvani catchment.

A city desperate to have more drinking water is eagerly awaiting the setting in of the monsoon over the catchment in Palakkad.

The dam is also located in Kerala, just across its border with Coimbatore.

While the first four days of this month had a total of only 2 mm rain, the catchment recorded 17 mm and 27 mm on June 5 and 6, according to official sources in the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (Board).

The board and the Corporation breathe easy only when the monsoon brings heavy inflow to the dam because water supply to one half of the city hinges on the monsoon. Figures available with the Coimbatore Corporation point out that the catchment recorded 50 mm rain on June 7 and 34 mm on June 6 last year.

But, the water level in the dam is higher this year. The full reservoir level of the dam is a little more than 50 feet. The water level on June 7 last year was 6.56 ft and it is 13.51 ft this year.

Assistant Executive Engineer of the board S. Sampath Kumar says the signs at the dam are very re-assuring.

The monsoon may set in over the catchment in a couple of days.

Bhavani scheme

With the Bhavani Combined Water Supply Scheme set to begin supply in a week, the Corporation hopes that three million to four million litres a day (mld) of Siruvani water will be diverted to the city. At present, this quantity is supplied to Kavundampalayam Municipality, Vadavalli Town Panchayat and a few other local bodies nearby. Drinking water will be provided to these local bodies under the Bhavani Scheme.

At present, the supply of Siruvani water to the city is around 56 million litres a day as the water level has dipped to 13.51 ft.

The total drawal for the city and 14 wayside habitations is only 70 mld as against the 101 mld (with 87 mld for the city) that is supplied when the dam is full.