2020 to be happy year for TN water managers

However, the storage level in north Tamil Nadu basin, comprising Chennai, is still short of 40 per cent, admit informed sources with the Public Works Department.

Though inflow into Mettur, Bhavanisagar and Periyar reservoirs has come down compared to November, the inflow is still encouraging in all major reservoirs. More than 8,000 cusecs of water from Mettur, Bhavanisagar, Periyar is released for irrigation. Water from Krishnagiri and Vaigai is also released to meet the irrigation demands, the sources said.

“There has been good intermittent rain across the delta region and the groundwater level is slowly recovering in Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur and Trichy. The anicuts are now flowing with Cauvery water and the tail end areas have started receiving rain bringing respite for farmers,” said a state official monitoring the rain and the agricultural activities in delta.

Going by the rain pattern, the drought expense and crop insurance compensation will drastically reduce during the next summer saving several hundreds of crores for the state exchequer, the official noted.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department weather bulletins, the monsoon has been above average in several parts of Tamil Nadu with a mild deficiency in north Tamil Nadu comprising Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Chennai and Chengalpet districts.

“The last two days of rain in Chengalpet has improved the water levels in all the ponds and lakes in Kancheepuram and the Madurantagam tank in Chengalpet is also filling up. The increased level of water will ensure better migration season for birds,” said N Udayakumar, an avid bird watcher now visiting wetlands in Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts.

The roosting of birds in Vedanthangal bird sanctuary had also picked this week and the painted storks have started arriving in small numbers, the bird watcher said.