The continuing rain in catchment areas in Salem and Dharmapuri districts and at the foothills of Madheswaran Hills has improved the inflow at Mettur Dam from 222 cusecs on Sunday to 1,600 cusecs on Monday. The water level in the dam rose from 18.43 feet on Sunday to 18.75 feet at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Public Works Department officials said the average rainfall was 6.4 mm and if this continued the inflow could rise steadily in the coming days. But, the dam could be opened for kuruvai cultivation on July 12 as the water level would have to touch 90 feet. That would take more than a month with the present inflow.
Official sources in Dharmapuri also said the inflow to River Cauvery was increasing at Billigundlu, the point where the river enters Tamil Nadu. This has resulted in more water at the Hogenakkal falls, much to the delight of tourists.
Though the inflow at Kelevarapalli Dam in Hosur was 1000 cusecs on Sunday, the release was restricted to 700 cusecs during the day to avoid flooding of a causeway near Parthakottai. It would be increased to 1200 cusecs during night, an official from the Water Resources Organisation (WRO) of Public Works Department said.
The excess water released in the South Pennar River reached the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project dam, raising the water level to 39 feet, as against the full reservoir level of 52 feet.
