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The northeast monsoon's heavy rainfall has dramatically improved the water storage situation in Tamil Nadu. As of Thursday, a remarkable 4,000 out of 14,140 irrigation tanks across the state are at full capacity, a stark contrast to the mere 891 full tanks before the monsoon's arrival in late October. This positive development is largely attributed to the significant rainfall experienced in districts such as Kanyakumari, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Chengalpet, and Tiruvannamalai, which boast a high number of tanks at 100% capacity. The water resources department's data reveals that Kanyakumari leads with 580 full tanks, followed by Villupuram (469), Thanjavur (384), Chengalpet (347), and Tiruvannamalai (376). The positive impact extends beyond these fully replenished tanks; an additional 2,926 tanks are nearing full capacity (76-99%), and another 2,396 are over half full. This widespread improvement indicates a significant boost to the state's agricultural sector and overall water security.
The impact of Cyclone Fengal is also evident in the data. Districts like Chennai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Thanjavur, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, and Villupuram, all significantly affected by the cyclone's heavy rainfall, now have approximately half their tanks at full capacity. This highlights the cyclone's significant role in contributing to the improved water storage levels across various regions of the state. However, the situation is not uniformly positive across the state. A concerning number of 569 tanks remain devoid of water despite the recent rainfall. The majority of these empty tanks are concentrated in Tirunelveli (181) and Tenkasi (137) districts, prompting the water resources department to seek explanations from local officials. Despite recording rainfall ranging from 1mm to 6mm in the 24-hour period ending Thursday morning, these districts reported zero water storage in a significant number of their tanks. This disparity requires further investigation to identify underlying reasons for the lack of water accumulation.
The positive impact of the monsoon extends beyond the irrigation tanks. The state's major and minor reservoirs collectively hold 183.892 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water, representing 82% of their total capacity. This substantial increase in reservoir storage is a significant indicator of the monsoon's success in replenishing water sources across the state. Furthermore, the Cauvery river's inflows since the beginning of the water year (June 1) have exceeded expectations. A total of 159 tmcft of Cauvery water was received at the Biligundulu inter-state border, surpassing the court-prescribed quantum by a considerable 115 tmcft. This surplus is a positive development for the state's water resources management and agricultural needs. Specific reservoirs like Mettur are nearing full capacity (89 tmcft out of 93.47 tmcft), indicating a healthy water storage situation in several key areas. Bhavanisagar, Amaravathi, Krishnagiri, and Sathanur reservoirs also maintain comfortable storage levels.
Despite the overall positive picture, certain regions remain a cause for concern. Low storage levels in several southern belt reservoirs, including Mullaperiyar (2.5 tmcft), Vaigai (1.8 tmcft), Papanasam (1.5 tmcft), and Manimuthur (2 tmcft), highlight the uneven distribution of rainfall and the need for continued monitoring and potential interventions to address water scarcity in these areas. The disparity between the large number of full tanks and the significant number of empty tanks, particularly in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts, necessitates a thorough investigation to understand the underlying reasons. This might include factors such as the condition of the tanks themselves, local topography, and the effectiveness of water harvesting and management practices in these regions. Further analysis is needed to develop targeted strategies for improving water security in these areas and to ensure that the benefits of the monsoon rainfall are equitably distributed across the state.