Coimbatore Corporation initiates silt dredging trials at Pillur reservoir to potentially restore 20 Percentage of its water-holding capacity, crucial for enhancing drinking water supply during summer.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Corporation has announced that ongoing trials for silt dredging operations at the Pillur reservoir have the potential to restore up to 20% of its water-holding capacity. This initiative comes as a response to the alarming levels of silt accumulation over the past decade, which has reached approximately 2.6 million cubic metres.
Currently, sediments cover 57ft of the dam's 100-ft height, significantly impacting its storage capacity. The Corporation draws around 122 million litres per day (MLD) from Pillur dam to meet the city's drinking water requirement of 260 MLD.
A senior Corporation official stated, "If successful, these trials will significantly increase the dam's capacity to store water, crucial for enhancing drinking water supply during summer."
The initial phase of the project, overseen by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), aims to remove 25,000 cubic metres of silt. This marks the beginning of a lengthy process expected to span over a year. A senior Tangedco official explained, "Following a review of trial outcomes, subsequent phases will be planned."
The trial, which commenced on July 12, employs an innovative approach using geo tubes within the reservoir. A specialised dredging machine, supplied by a Kerala-based private firm, extracts silt from the reservoir and deposits it into these tubes. The sediment settles in the tubes as water seeps out.
However, recent rainfall in the district has posed challenges to the trial's progress. "Despite minimal showers, with 8mm recorded at the dam in the last 24 hours, installing the tubes is challenging," the official added.
The success of this silt dredging operation could have far-reaching implications for Coimbatore's water supply, particularly during the summer months when demand peaks. The Corporation remains hopeful that the trials will yield positive results, paving the way for a more comprehensive restoration of the Pillur reservoir's capacity.
Currently, sediments cover 57ft of the dam's 100-ft height, significantly impacting its storage capacity. The Corporation draws around 122 million litres per day (MLD) from Pillur dam to meet the city's drinking water requirement of 260 MLD.
A senior Corporation official stated, "If successful, these trials will significantly increase the dam's capacity to store water, crucial for enhancing drinking water supply during summer."
The initial phase of the project, overseen by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), aims to remove 25,000 cubic metres of silt. This marks the beginning of a lengthy process expected to span over a year. A senior Tangedco official explained, "Following a review of trial outcomes, subsequent phases will be planned."
The trial, which commenced on July 12, employs an innovative approach using geo tubes within the reservoir. A specialised dredging machine, supplied by a Kerala-based private firm, extracts silt from the reservoir and deposits it into these tubes. The sediment settles in the tubes as water seeps out.
However, recent rainfall in the district has posed challenges to the trial's progress. "Despite minimal showers, with 8mm recorded at the dam in the last 24 hours, installing the tubes is challenging," the official added.
The success of this silt dredging operation could have far-reaching implications for Coimbatore's water supply, particularly during the summer months when demand peaks. The Corporation remains hopeful that the trials will yield positive results, paving the way for a more comprehensive restoration of the Pillur reservoir's capacity.