Flood alert issued to people living along banks of the Cauvery

About one lakh cusecs of water have been released from Kabini and KRS reservoirs in Karnataka and the gushing waters is likely to reach Biligundulu on Monday morning. Currently, 45,000 cusecs of water flow into Tamil Nadu.

It may surge to over 90,000 cusecs. “Apart from the people, farmers too have been issued a warning,” said Salem District Collector Rohini R Bhajibhakare.

The Salem district administration has announced toll-free number 1077 for flood-related emergency assistance. The Public Works Department (PWD) and Revenue Departments have been working round the clock as part of precautionary measures. Awareness is being created in villages by tom-tom and a team has been deployed at the disaster management cell at Collectorate to maintain constant vigil.

Water level in Mettur dam stood at 83.2 ft at 8 am on Sunday as against its full reservoir level of 120 ft. The PWD officials are hoping that the dam would easily touch 100 ft in the next few days with an increased inflow bringing a glimmer of hope to farmers.

Meanwhile, flood alert issued to people living on the banks of the river Bhavani near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore, over the last six days continues due to heavy discharge from Pillur dam.

The State is experiencing a significant increase in hydropower production this year, thanks to the abundant rainfall and the subsequent filling up of reservoirs. “From April 1 to July 11 this year, the hydropower generated was 921.161 million units as against 341.40 million units during the same corresponding period last year,” a top Tangedco official from Chennai said.