Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja (centre) and officials inspecting the Siruvani Dam in Kerala on Saturday.
The Coimbatore Corporation has begun efforts to expedite repairs to the seepage at the Siruvani Dam in Kerala, with the Kerala Irrigation Department estimating that the work would cost about ₹18 crore.Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja inspected the dam on Saturday along with officials of the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board and Kerala Irrigation Department to review the extent of the seepage and discuss the proposed repair works.Officials said the seepage results in a loss of nearly 10 million litres a day (MLD) of water, reducing the storage available for drinking water supply to Coimbatore, particularly during summer.The proposed repair follows a recommendation made by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS-Pune) after it inspected the dam last year. The agency suggested grouting as the appropriate method to arrest the seepage. Based on this methodology, the Kerala Irrigation Department has prepared a preliminary estimate of about ₹18 crore and is expected to submit a detailed project report shortly.The move comes after the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary took up the issue following representations made by the Coimbatore Corporation.A Corporation official said the Kerala Irrigation Department had shared the tentative cost based on the grouting methodology recommended by CWPRS. “We are working to mobilise the required funds so that the repair works can be taken up without delay once the detailed project report is finalised,” the official said.The full reservoir level (FRL) is 49.5 feet, from which water is drawn for supply to the city. The current storage in the reservoir stands at around 13.45 feet.While the Corporation was drawing about 98 MLD from the reservoir between June and December, the current extraction has come down to around 60 MLD. During summer, supply from the Siruvani system drops to about 35 MLD.Officials said plugging the seepage would increase the effective storage in the reservoir, enabling the city to nearly double its summer extraction from around 35 MLD to about 60 MLD after the repair works are completed. Published - July 04, 2026 08:41 pm IST
