Monsoon shortfall in the Nilgiris exposes water stress in Coonoor
Conservationists call for studies to understand Coonoor town capacity; they say the Ralliah Dam, the town’s primary water source, was built to cater to the needs of a fraction of the town’s current population
The 2023 monsoon season in the Nilgiris district has been significantly below average, leading to water shortages in the town of Coonoor. The Ralliah Dam, Coonoor's main water supply, has been nearly depleted over the past week, raising concerns among residents. According to the Horticulture Department, rainfall this year has been 55% below the normal level for the southwest monsoon in Udhagamandalam.
Despite this, officials deny an impending water crisis in the town, attributing the current situation to the steady monsoon rains in the district's major dams that supply water to Coonoor. However, activist Sharan Deep Singh fears a difficult year ahead if the upcoming northeast monsoon fails to deliver the typical rainfall that Coonoor relies on.
Singh noted that the dam's low water levels and depleting underground aquifers are contributing factors. Coonoor Consumer Protection Association president S. Manogaran criticized the local bodies' lack of preparedness, suggesting they desilt the dam and remove invasive tree species that consume excessive water. Conservationists are calling for studies to determine Coonoor's carrying capacity, as the town's real-estate boom in recent years has strained the finite water resources.
The Coonoor Municipality is currently ensuring water supply to residents every seven to ten days, but the current situation is caused by the dam's lack of water rather than a municipal failure.
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