Chennai: With the southwest monsoon approaching rapidly, alarm is growing over the delay in urgent repair works at the Siruvani Dam. The Siruvani Dam, though located in Kerala, supplies water to lakhs of residents in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Coimbatore.

Officials have revealed that approximately 10 million litres per day (MLD) are currently being lost due to seepage, a volume sufficient to meet three days’ residential water needs for the city.

Experts call for immediate action

Water management experts warn that repairing the leakage in time could help conserve 50 to 55 MLD during the critical summer months — a potentially life-saving reserve for Coimbatore’s population.

A joint inspection was conducted on 8 January involving teams from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, IIT-Madras, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC), and the Kerala Water Resources Department. This initiative was aimed at assessing the extent of the damage and proposing corrective measures.

Technical report submitted, awaiting cost estimates

Following the inspection, a detailed technical report was submitted to CCMC Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran by the CWPRS team. The report detailed the nature of the seepage and suggested two possible remedies — grouting and the installation of a geomembrane lining to contain the leakage and improve dam safety.

According to media reports, sources in the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation confirmed that the Kerala Water Resources and Irrigation Department is now tasked with preparing the final cost estimates for the proposed repair work.

The Kerala department is expected to execute the repairs, while the Tamil Nadu government will release the necessary funding once the financial details are received.

Clock ticking ahead of Monsoon

With the monsoon just days away, environmental groups and civic bodies are urging both state governments to act swiftly. Delays could lead to substantial rainwater losses, compounding Coimbatore’s existing water supply challenges.

IANS inputs