The Hindu 30.06.2010
Siruvani water position improving
Special Correspondent 
Rain God's blessing:Rain helps in maintaining a comfortable water level in Siruvani Dam.
COIMBATORE: Though there has been heavy drawal of drinking water from the Siruvani Dam during the World Classical Tamil Conference (June 23-27), moderate rainfall is helping in improving the situation now, Mayor R. Venkatachalam said on Tuesday.
There was no heavy rain in the catchments during the conference period, but whatever was given by the South West Monsoon enabled the Coimbatore Corporation draw 80 million litres a day, as against the 62 mld to 70 mld prior to the monsoon setting in, the Mayor said.
“This is why we are able to supply Siruvani water to some eastern and northern wards in the city that face shortage under the Pilloor Scheme,” he pointed out.
From 20.34 ft (as against the full reservoir level of nearly 51 ft) on June 24, the water level in the dam dipped to 19.35 ft on June 29.
“With lakhs of people visiting the conference venue, there was a huge need for drinking water,” the Mayor explained. “Now, whatever the monsoon offers will increase the level steadily as there will be less pressure on the supply front,” he said.
The Mayor also said: “We have already restored the alternate day supply. This points at the comfortable situation we are in.
Between June 24 and 29, the catchments received rainfall ranging from 3 mm to 16 mm.
The monsoon is expected to turn vigorous in the first or second week of July. There will be further improvement in the supply position,” he said.
The Mayor assured the people in the city that the last anxiety-filled summer was over.
“The Pilloor Phase II scheme will be completed before the next summer and the city will have enough water from three schemes: Siruvani, Pilloor I and Pilloor II. The Bhavani and Aliyar schemes for the suburbs will remove the pressure on these schemes,” he said.
