Chennai, October 17 (IANS). After heavy rains in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, the water level of Mettur Dam has increased to 92 feet.
The normal quantity of water from the dam which used to be 7,000 cusecs, has now been reduced to 500 cusecs. The water level has reached 92 feet and currently the total water in Mettur dam is 54.96 TMC.
The water flow in the dam increased from 15,531 cubic feet per second (cusec) on Tuesday to 16,196 cusecs on Wednesday as the northeast monsoon hit the southern states including the catchment areas of the Mettur dam.
With the northeast monsoon affecting the southern states including the catchment areas of the Mettur dam, the inflow into the dam which was 15,531 cubic feet per second (cusec) on Tuesday has increased to 16,196 cusecs on Wednesday.
Irrigation water withdrawal from Mettur Dam through East-West Canal has been reduced from 500 cusecs to 300 cusecs.
Krishnarajasagara and Kabini dams in the Cauvery catchment areas have been filled due to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Surplus water from both these dams is released into the Kaveri River and reaches Mettur Dam via Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu.
The water level in Mettur Dam is 120 feet and its capacity is 93.47 TMC. Chief Minister K. The previous AIADMK government led by Palaniswami had launched the Mettur Surplus Water Scheme, also known as Sarabanga Lift Irrigation Project, in 2021. The project aims to divert excess flood water released from the Mettur Dam into 100 lakes in the region for irrigation and drinking purposes.
When the Mettur Dam is full the water is taken through canals to Thimmampatti Pump House and the excess water is pumped through pipelines to M. Kallipatti Lake and Nangavalli Lake. After this the water is released into many lakes and ponds. The scheme is expected to promote farming on 4,238 acres of land in 40 villages and provide drinking water to 38 villages.
With the north-east monsoon expected to bring heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Kaveri river that flows through Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the water level at the Mettur dam is expected to rise further in the coming days.
–IANS
MKS/AKJ
