Salem, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : Authorities in Salem, Tamil Nadu, have increased the water discharge from the Mettur Dam to 12,000 cubic feet per second as of Monday morning, responding to heightened irrigation demands in the Cauvery Delta region. This adjustment, effective from 6 a.m., follows a series of increases since the reservoir’s water was released for samba rice cultivation on September 1.
The decision aims to enhance water supply for farmers preparing their fields and initiating early-stage planting. Initially, when the dam was opened, the discharge started at 3,000 cusecs. Within hours, it was raised to 7,000 cusecs, a level maintained for six consecutive days.
Recognizing the growing irrigation needs in the Cauvery Delta, officials elevated the flow to 10,000 cusecs on Sunday evening. The flow was further adjusted to 12,000 cusecs on Monday morning. As of Sunday evening, the water level in the Mettur reservoir stood at 92.39 feet, with a recorded inflow of 9,709 cusecs and an available storage capacity of approximately 55.35 thousand million cubic feet.
This increase in water release aims to deliver more water to delta districts, where reliable irrigation is crucial for samba rice crops. Farmers in the area are optimistic that the increased flow will meet their immediate water needs, allowing for uninterrupted farming.
The recent rise in discharge comes as officials strive to balance inflow and storage levels in the reservoir. Currently, the outflow of 12,000 cusecs exceeds the recorded inflow of 9,709 cusecs, making inflow a critical factor in future water release decisions. Moving forward, officials will monitor the reservoir’s water level, flow rates, storage, and irrigation demands to ensure adequate supply for farmers reliant on the Cauvery River for their crops.
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