Rapidly falling water level in dams worries water managers, sends warning to farmers

The rapidly falling water level in Papanasam and Manimuthar dams that determine the fate of agricultural operations and drinking water needs of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts has worried the water managers here as there is no sign of start of the Northeast monsoon, which would usually commence in mid-October every year.

Water level in Papanasam dam, which stood at 85 feet during this period last year, is only 42 feet on Friday (October 9) against the maximum storage level of 143 feet. Water level in Manimuthar dam is also not impressive as the district’s largest dam has water for only 59 feet against the maximum capacity of 118 feet, which was 91 feet during his period last year.

The only reason behind the unimpressive storage level in the Papanasam, Manimuthar and Servalar dams of Tirunelveli district is the poor rainfall during the Southwest monsoons last year and this year. When the official machinery prayed for abundant rainfall during the during Northeast monsoon last year, nature let them down again to leave the storage level in a mess now.

Consequently, area of cultivation of agricultural and horticultural crops last year and this year has considerably shrunk. While the farmers having their lands close to the irrigation channels cautiously tested their fortune, agriculturists in other areas abstained from farming completely.

This trend continued this year also during the ‘kar’ paddy season between June and September as the farmers are not prepared to gamble during the Southwest monsoon season 2026.

While the Indian Meteorological Department is yet to give concrete rainfall predictions for the upcoming Northeast monsoon this year, the independent weather pundits predict that isolated heavy downpour triggered by the Super El-Nino effect might start after October 15 this year along the southern coastal districts. However, there is no sign so far as refreshing wind from the Northeast direction is yet to set-in.

“We’re sceptical about the ‘pisanam’ paddy season this year as the Super El-Nino effect may wipe-out the crops either due to drought-like situation or through heavy downpour within short duration. So, most of the farmers are not showing interest to prepare their nurseries,” said N. Balamurugan, a farmer from Palayamkottai.

While the farmers are not prepared to take the risk, the local bodies pumping water from the 236 infiltration wells sunk from Papanasam to Punnaikaayal to supply drinking water to the residents are also worried about the storage level in the dams.

“If the upcoming Northeast monsoon lets us down for the second consecutive year, things will be worse for us in next February onwards. The worst part is that we’ll have to meet for the local body polls during this time next year. If we’re entangled in drinking water crisis, the poll outcome will be disastrous for us,” said a town panchayat chairman from Tirunelveli district.

Apart from quenching the thirst of millions of people in four southern districts and irrigating over 85,000 acres of lands in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, the water released from Papanasam generate 32 MW power in the Lower Dam. Another 20 MW electricity is generated from the water released from Servalar Dam.

“Due to reduced discharge of 379 cusecs from the Papanasam Dam, only 7 MW power is generated against the maximum capacity of 32 MW. There is no power generation in the Servalar Dam where the water level has fallen to 55 feet. Since water can be released from Servalar Dam for power generation only when the water level stands above 60 feet against its maximum capacity of 156 feet, power generation in Severalar Dam has been stopped,” said the officials.