JOIN USReservoirs, including Mettur, are filling up faster as the north-east monsoon brought more rains to the state, bolstering hopes of the delta farmers to have adequate water for the coming crop season.
Water level in the Stanley reservoir in Mettur, the lifeline for the delta farmers, stood at 91.3 feet against its total capacity of 120 feet. “The storage, which was below 85 feet last week, is expected to increase further in the coming days," a senior official from PWD-Water Resources Organisation said here.
He said the inflow at Biligundlu, the entry point of the Cauvery from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu,has been between 10,000 and 12,000 cusec in the last couple of days.
Mullai Periyar had 125 feet of water against its capacity of 142 feet, while storage at Parambikulam was 45 feet against its total capacity of 72 feet. Water level in the Aliyar dam stood at 90 feet, 30 feet short of its full capacity.
Reservoirs close to or on the Western Ghats such as Vaigai, Sholayar and Papanasam continue to receive healthy inflow, while Manimuthar across the Tamirabarani river in Tirunelveli is also witnessing a steady rise.
Inflow to major dams in the southern region such as Bhavanisagar has also been increasing in the last one week.
The agri sector, already enthused by the forecast of a near-normal monsoon this year, is confident of starting the sowing season on time due to the surplus water.
Water bodies supplying drinking water to Chennai such as Poondi, Sholavaram, Redhills, Chembarampakkam and Veeranam have also recorded water levels higher than the that in the last year.