The chances of release of water from Mettur dam for farming in Cauvery delta districts by this month end have brightened with water level crossing 70-feet mark on Friday and the inflow steadily increasing over the last few days.
The Mettur dam has been receiving reasonably good inflow since August 16, following the release of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini reservoirs in Karnataka due to widespread rainfall in the catchment areas.
The water level in Mettur dam stood at 71.18 feet on Friday against its full level of 120 feet. The storage level was at 33.722 tmc against the dam’s full capacity of 93.47 tmc. The inflow into the dam was 22,077 cusecs. The water level rose by about 11 feet in the last one week – from 60.43 feet on September 2 to 71.18 feet on September 8.
The water level in the dam stood at 76.15 feet on this date last year and at 84.12 feet on the same day in 2015.
According to PWD sources, the sluices of Stanley Reservoir were opened a few times in the past when the dam had only 70 feet water. But the continuous reasonable inflow enabled in supplying water for successfully completing the farm season.
The PWD sources said that when the Mettur dam was opened for farm activities on September 20 last year, the dam had 87.68 feet water (storage 50.39 tmc). Contrary to expectations, the realisation of water in Cauvery went on deteriorating in the following days, leading to complaints from farmers that the water released till the end of January was not adequate enough to save the standing crops.
PWD cautious
Hence, the PWD is expected to be cautious this year and may take a decision on releasing water only after ensuring adequate storage in the dam, the sources said. The government may consider opening the sluices of Stanley Reservoir for prolonged supply if the level reaches 90-feet mark with steady inflow and the storage at more than 50 tmc.
With the inflow remaining at the same level for the next fortnight, the water level is expected to cross the 90 feet mark well by this month end to enable the government to take a favourable decision, the sources said.
Water from the am was not released for farm activities on the customary date of June 12 this year too, due to the lull in the south-west monsoon activity over south interior Karnataka. This was the 58th time that the dam missed its customary date of release.
The Mettur dam depends on the combined storage position in Karnataka reservoirs for adequate inflow of water. The delta region required about 330 tmc of water for raising kuruvai, samba and thalai crops.
