THRISSUR: Peechi dam, which is over 60 years old and caters to the drinking water needs of people in Thrissur will open its shutter after four years, today at 2 pm. The Executive Engineer of the dam issued an alert for the people staying near the right and left canals of the dam.
As per the reading at 8 am today, the dam has a water level of 78.71 meters. The maximum capacity of the dam is 79.25 meters which is expected to reach by 2pm as the rainwater from different hill regions flow down to the dam, situated around 22 kilometres from Thrissur town.
Many people have gathered around the dam region to witness the magnificent site of water jumping down from the dam. The dam has a catchment area of about 1300 hectares with an established Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Due to the grave drought the state experiences in the previous years, the dam stored thew water for the public and did not open its shutters.
As per the data with the Irrigation department, in 2017, on July 27, the dam had only 58.58-meter water level, pointing out the splendid rain showered this year. The Peechi dam in the past had boating facilities for the tourists, which was dropped after the Kumarakom boat accident.
An extensive garden is also maintained in connection with dam which always invite a niche of local tourists during weekends and vacation.