Water released from Emerald reservoir

Ooty:Water being released from the Emerald Dam, near Udhagamandalam, on Tuesday.Heavy rain over the past few weeks have done a world of good to hydel and drinking water reservoirs in this hill station and its surroundings. However, the rapidly rising levels have forced the authorities to take precautionary measures.With the level having touched the brim in the Emerald reservoir (maximum 179 feet) and no signs of the inflow reducing, excess water was released on Tuesday.

The people residing along the water course had been warned through tom-tom about the release. Since the channel conveying the excess water had been widened standing crops such as carrots and beans had been affected only on a few acres, according to official sources.Pointing out that the situation was being monitored round-the-clock, they said that while the reservoirs at Avalanchi, Porthimund, Mukurthi, Pykara and Piloor were full the Sandynullah reservoir was nearly full and Upper Bhavani was only a few feet away from overflowing.

At the Parsons Valley Hydel Reservoir which takes care of the water requirements of a sizable part of Ooty, the defence establishments at Wellington and some way side villages, the level was 47 feet (maximum 58). The storage in many of the local reservoirs also was satisfactory.