Substantial water storage in the reservoirs in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode districts has placed the Water Resources Department in a state of certainty to assure water availability for agricultural and drinking purposes in the coming months.

Five wettings for raising crops in the third zone of PAP (Parambikulam-Aliyar Project) canal will be completed without any hassle. Water continues to be provided for irrigation of the old ayacut of Aliyar Dam, and the contour canal of Amaravathy Dam. As for Bhavani Sagar Dam, water release will cover the dry ayacut and wet ayacut, Chief Engineer of Water Resources Department, Coimbatore, S. Murugesan said.

Compared to last year, there is substantial storage this time in the major dams some of which continue to receive inflow owing to rainfall in the catchments, he said.

Water depth at Bhavani Sagar Dam on Tuesday was 94.67 feet against the full level of 105 feet. The storage was 22,150 mcft against the maximum of 32,800 mcft. The inflow was 866 cusecs and the outflow 1,850 cusecs. At the same time last year, the level was 80.02 feet and storage was 15,695 mcft.

Water level in Parambikulam, the second biggest reservoir in the western region, stood at 70.54 feet against the maximum depth of 72 feet. The storage was 13,073 mcft against the capacity of 13,408 mcft. The inflow was 637 cusecs. Last year, the level was just at 43.94 feet, and the storage was 7414 mcft.

At Aliyar Dam, the level was 104.4 feet against the maximum depth of 120 feet, and storage of 2,807 mcft against the full capacity of 3,864 mcft. Last year, the level was 85.35 feet with storage of 1,679 mcft.

The largest difference in the levels of last year and this year is in Sholayar Dam. This year, the level was at 85.03 feet against the maximum depth of 160 feet, and storage was 5,046 mcft. At the same time last year, the depth was at just 11.95 feet and the storage was dismal at 136 mcft. The inflow was, however, only 15 cusecs. An outflow of 1300 cusecs was maintained from the reservoir.

The level of 83.34 feet against the maximum depth of 90 feet at Amaravathy Dam is another cause for comfort for the Water Resources Department, though it was higher last year. The current storage is 3,457 mcft against the capacity of 4,047 mcft. Last year, the level at the same time was at 89.6 feet and the storage was 4,011 mcft.

The level at 42.92 feet against the maximum depth of 60 feet was lesser this year at Thirumoorthy Dam also. Last year, the level in the reservoir stood at 48.62 feet. The storage this year is 1,060 mcft compared to 1,277 mcft last year.