20% WRD tanks bone dry, storage level in 6k waterbodies below 25%

Of 1,340 tanks in Madurai, 487 have no water; officials blame lack of proper links between tanks and reservoirs, encroachments for the situation

- S GURUVANMIKANATHAN

OUT of the 14,139 tanks maintained by the Water Resources Department (WRD) across the state, 2,802 tanks (20%) are completely dry, while water levels in 5,963 (40%) are below 25%, according to WRD data accessed by TNIE.The situation is particularly concerning in districts like Madurai and Tirunelveli. Out of 1,340 tanks in Madurai, 487 have no water and 419 of 780 tanks in Tirunelveli are dry.

Official sources pointed out that the lack of proper links between tanks and reservoirs, coupled with encroachments, is making it difficult to maintain water storage in these waterbodies, even when the state had substantial rainfall this year.