Coimbatore's Siruvani Reservoir Loses 10 Million Litres Daily Amid Seepage Repair Delays
The Siruvani reservoir in Coimbatore is losing at least 10 million litres per day (MLD) of precious water due to ongoing seepage issues. This significant loss stems from a prolonged delay in finalizing a methodology to arrest the seepage, despite experts from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) being engaged for this critical task.
Expert Involvement and Financial Outlay
In 2024, the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation jointly roped in the Pune-based CWPRS to address the dam's seepage problem. The CWPRS was paid more than Rs 17.5 lakhs almost a year ago to develop and finalize a repair strategy. However, the organization has yet to finalize the methodology, leaving the seepage issue unresolved for over a year and a half.
Proposed Technologies and Current Status
The CWPRS suggested two potential technologies to mitigate the seepage:
- Installation of a geomembrane material
- Pressure grouting method
Despite the corporation paying for technology finalization in September 2024, no decision has been made, exacerbating water loss daily.
Impact on Water Storage and Supply
The dam's allowable seepage level has gradually increased due to the enlargement of holes, leading to excessive water loss. As a result, the dam's storage is currently restricted to 44.61 feet against its full capacity of 49.53 feet for safety reasons. As of Monday, the water level stood at 27.06 feet, highlighting the strain on resources.
Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran noted that while the demand for water from the dam is 100 MLD, the current drawal is limited to 60-65 MLD. The total drawal for the district was recorded at 63.44 MLD, underscoring the supply shortfall.
Administrative Efforts and Future Plans
Commissioner Prabakaran emphasized that the corporation has been constantly pushing CWPRS officials to finalize the technology. Once finalized, a detailed project report can be submitted along with estimates for fund sanction. If achieved, this project could be presented in the upcoming local budget, offering a potential solution to the ongoing water crisis.
Broader Implications for Coimbatore
With summer approaching, the city corporation claims to have sufficient water storage in reservoirs. However, the restricted drawal from Siruvani dam due to safety concerns and seepage issues poses a significant challenge. The daily loss of 10 MLD not only impacts immediate water availability but also threatens long-term resource sustainability for Coimbatore and its surrounding districts.
