Mettur water level falls to 75 ft amid poor inflow

CHENNAI: The water level in the Mettur Dam has dropped to 75 feet as poor inflow and an inadequate southwest monsoon continue to impact storage, raising concerns among Delta farmers ahead of the irrigation season.

According to a Daily Thanthi report, the reservoir is currently receiving an inflow of just 125 cusecs, while 1,500 cusecs is being released to meet drinking water requirements. The storage stands at 38.7 tmc ft.

Water is usually released from the Mettur Dam on June 12 every year for kuruvai cultivation in the Cauvery Delta. However, the release is generally possible only when the reservoir level remains above 90 feet.

With the dam level now well below the required mark and the southwest monsoon yet to pick up in the Cauvery catchment, uncertainty looms over the irrigation schedule.

As the water level continues to recede, vast stretches of the reservoir have been exposed, giving the dam the appearance of a large pond in several areas. The falling storage has heightened concerns among farmers in the Delta districts, who fear a setback to the upcoming kuruvai season.