The Vaigai Dam water level was reported for September 28, 2026. The dam is an important source of irrigation water in Tamil Nadu.

Vaigai Dam near Andipatti in Theni district has lost an estimated 15–20% of its storage capacity because of silt accumulation and has never been desilted since construction, energy and law minister C T R Nirmal Kumar said during an inspection. Review meetings found silt deposits accounting for 15–20% of reservoir capacity in the catchment areas. Desilting assessments are under way, and approval has been sought from the Union government. District collector R Vaithinathan and other officials accompanied the minister.

Tamil Nadu has sought Central environmental clearance to desilt Vaigai Dam, which supplies water for agriculture and drinking needs. The government aims to start work within two months after formalities are completed. Initial estimates envisage a nine-year project, which the state hopes to expedite. Farmers will be allowed to collect alluvial soil free for agricultural use, with monitoring to prevent commercial exploitation.

The dam has not been desilted since its inauguration in 1959. An earlier state proposal estimated the work would cost ₹600 crore. After a weak monsoon, the reservoir level fell to 20 feet, against its full capacity of 71 feet. The dam serves southern districts including Madurai, Dindigul and Ramanathapuram; dependent farmers have urged the government to release water for agriculture.

PWD Assistant Executive Engineer Sekaran said Vaigai Dam desilting is expected to begin next month. The Tamil Nadu government has proposed desilting Vaigai, Mettur, Pechiparai and Amaravathi dams, with an order expected in the next few days. The Union government informed the state that clearance from the State Environment Department would suffice; central clearance is not required.

At a farmers’ grievance meeting in Theni district Collectorate on January 23, farmers said the 67-year-old Vaigai reservoir supplies drinking water to five districts and irrigation water to nearly 1.36 lakh acres. Farmers’ association president Pandian said heavy silt deposits needed to be cleared and claimed the dam had never been cleaned. Farmers said they had raised the issue for almost a decade. Collector Ranjith Singh presided; revenue, forest, Water Resources Department and Rural Development officials attended.

Heavy rain in the Mullai Periyar and Varusanadu hill catchments raised Vaigai Dam’s level by four feet in a day. At 7 pm Saturday, 19 October, storage reached 66.01 feet, against a full capacity of 71 feet, prompting the Water Resources Department (WRD) to issue a first-stage flood warning for Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram.

Theni recorded average rainfall of 46.61 mm; Thekkady received 158 mm and Shanmuganadhi 95 mm. Mullai Periyar Dam discharged 1,400 cusecs to Tamil Nadu. Vaigai Dam inflow rose from 2,268 cusecs at 6 am, when the level was 62.47 feet, to 17,310 cusecs at 1 pm and an average 17,652 cusecs by evening. The WRD released 1,349 cusecs for irrigation and drinking water. Farmers sought releases into 58 canals to recharge tanks and groundwater in Madurai.