Water level in Big Tank reaches six feet, thanks to northeast monsoon

A view of big tank in Ramanathapuram on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: L. BALACHANDAR

With the continuous wet spell, the water level in Big Tank in Ramanathapuram district is likely to cross six feet to reach its maximum storage level of seven feet, according to officials. 

As the northeast monsoon delivered abundant rainfall in the past two weeks, most of the water bodies in the district reached their maximum level. In this situation, the excess waterflow from Parthibanur regulator filled the Big Tank – the second largest in the district – next only to R.S. Mangalam Big Tank. 

Though water could be stored up to 7.6 feet, it would generally be opened for safety reasons when it touched seven feet.  

Officials of the Water Resources Department said that as the rain had stopped, the chances of the water level increasing was minimal. Even if did, the decision to release water from the tank would be taken based on the circumstances, an official added.  

Usually, the tank gets filled after release of water from Vaigai dam, but the excess rainfall that flooded the water bodies in all nearby districts has increased the flow to the Big Tank too, the official said.

Meanwhile, farmers’ association leaders appealed to authorities in the district to clear encroachments in the channels and ensure that the water flowed without hindrance.

At the farmers’ grievance redressal meeting held on Friday, Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said the eviction drive in the channels would be accorded top priority and the water from the Vaigai would benefit irrigation activities.