Vazhani Dam water level hits record low

THRISSUR: With the water level in the Vazhani Dam hitting a historic low of one cubic foot, the northern parts of the district including Wadakkanchery and Choondal are staring at an acute drought situation this summer. The most affected due to the shortage of water at the reservoir will be Wadakkanchery Municipality and eight nearby panchayats located downstream. They draw water released from the dam to Kecheri and Vazhani rivers. Now it might not go beyond the Thekkumkara panchayat lying close to the dam. “The paddy cultivation in Thekkumkara for the third phase (Moonnam Poo) does not have enough water and the Vazhani Drinking Water Project is also facing a shortage.

The water in Vazhani River below the dam is a result of the spring that comes through the ground from the reservoir located above it, and there is no water to release to the Vazhani, Kecheri rivers and Vazhani canal depended on for agriculture purpose. The water from the Kecheri river is used in Thekkumkara where the dam is located till Choondal,” C.V. Sunilkumar, vice-chairman of the Thekkumkara panchayat, told DC. Due to lack of enough water in the dam, all the wells and ponds in the region have dried up. The maximum capacity of the Vazhani Dam is 16 feet.