3000 cusecs from KRS dam to reach Mettur by Monday

 Around 12 noon on Friday, about 3,000 cusecs of water has been released from the KRS dam. This water is likely to reach Mettur dam by Monday night.

Yet, there is nothing to cheer about for Tamil Nadu farmers as officials sounded negative on the prospects of opening the sluices of Mettur dam since this inflow may hardly help in increasing its storage level.

 For over a week, about 500 cusecs of water was released from KRS dam. “Of that, barely 200 cusecs were realized at the Mettur dam. And in the current scenario, of the 3,000 cusecs released, the realization would be only around 2,500 cusecs. With this little inflow, the storage position may hardly improve in the Mettur dam. So, it may not be possible to open the dam for irrigation any time now,” said the official. More over the official also claimed that there has been no communication from Karnataka on increasing the water release from KRS dam.

As on Friday, the water level in the dam lingers around 39.01 feet as against its full capacity of 120 feet. The inflow into the dam remains a meagre 253 cusecs; however, the release of water is around 2000 cusecs.

Farmers in delta districts have been waiting anxiously for the release of water from Mettur dam to save their dying crops. For the eighth consecutive year, the dam has missed its customary date of June 12 for water release. The dam was last opened on the exact date on June 12 in 2011.

Last year, the dam was opened delayed on this day on July 19.  Karnataka also failed to honour the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s order to release water to Tamil Nadu.

The dam, which reached its full reservoir level in 2018 following heavy rains during South West monsoon, serves as a major drinking water source and irrigation purposes of delta districts.