Mettur Dam full after five years

The Stanley Reservoir in Mettur, the lifeline of lakhs of farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, has maximum water after a gap of five years.

With heavy rain pounding the catchment areas in Karnataka and the neighbouring state releasing excess water from Kabini, Krishnarajasagar and other reservoirs, Mettur Dam has been filling up fast. The water level in the reservoir touched 100 feet on Tuesday last and with the inflow witnessing a steady increase, it has reached the maximum level - 120 feet.

This is the 39th time in the 85-year history of Mettur Dam that the reservoir has achieved its full-reservoir level (FRL). The last time the dam achieved its FRL was in August 2013.

PWD engineers and Salem district administration officials said the realisation of water at stood at 72,486 cusecs on Monday afternoon. With the dam achieving its FRL, the quantum of water being released has also been increased from 30,000 cusecs to 40,000 cusecs.

Mettur dam gates opened to release disputed-river Cauvery water, after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami ordered release, in Salem on Thursday, July 19, 2018. PTI photo

Officials have also opened the 16 sluice gates - meant for releasing surplus water - besides releasing 1,000 cusecs of water through east and west bank canals of the Mettur dam. The dam achieving its FRL and water being released in huge quantum has brought smiles on the faces of lakhs of farmers in the Cauvery Delta region.

Farmers in the region said the water has come in time for the 'kuruvai' (short-term) crops and they are happy for the first time in many years. Usually, water from the dam is opened on June 12 for 'kuruvai' crops, but it was delayed this year as well.

With Mettur dam receiving excess water, the reservoir's gates were opened by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday last for irrigation purposes.

R Senthilkumar, Chief Engineer, Water Resource Department (WRD), Tiruchi region, told reporters that all steps have been taken to ensure that the released water is used to fill nearly 700 lakes and tanks in the Delta Region.