THENI: Tamil Nadu government had decided to desilt the Vaigai dam following an official assessment that silt had accumulated to a height of 21ft, leading to areas of water storage reducing from 10 SqKm to six SqKm.
Though the maximum level of the dam was 71ft, water could be stored only from the 21st feet. With the desilting of the dam using Japanese technology more water could be stored, official sources said.