Rain in catchment pushes up inflow into Mettur dam

At Biligundulu, the entry point of Cauvery into Tamil Nadu, an inflow of 5,500 cusecs was recorded around 10 am. This was a sharp rise from about 800 cusecs over the last few days. The inflow is likely to surge further with the onset of summer rains and the soon to follow southwest monsoon showers.

Water from Hogenakkal is expected to reach Mettur Dam in a day or two. The inflow into the dam is already rising gradually from 652 cusecs on May 16 to 1,186 cusecs on Tuesday and further to 1,226 cusecs on Wednesday at 8 am. The release from the dam is maintained at 1,000 cusecs over the last two days.

Also, the storage level in the dam stands exactly at 100 feet at 8 am on Wednesday. Significantly, the water level in Mettur Dam remains above 100 feet continuously for about 282 days since August 13 last year.

It was last in 2005 the dam registered an unbeatable record of holding over 100 feet continuously for 427 days. Meanwhile, the officials have begun maintenance works in the dam ahead of its scheduled opening on June 12. The dam serves as a major source of drinking water and for irrigation purposes in the Delta region.