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Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) The Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district once again reached its full capacity of 120 feet on Monday, filling it for the seventh time this year following continuous inflows from Karnataka and Cauvery river catchment areas.
As heavy rainfall continued in the Cauvery basin with the southwest monsoon, the dam recorded a flow of 20,000 cubic feet per second (cusec), forcing authorities to release the same amount of water downstream.
According to Water Resources Department (WRD) officials, the dam now has a water storage of 93.47 thousand million cubic feet (TMC feet). To manage the excess flow, water is being released through a 16-vent Ellis saddle surplus sluice.
Additionally, 800 cusecs of water is being released through the upper sluice gates to meet the drinking water requirements of the downstream districts.
Revenue and disaster management officials have issued a warning to residents of low-lying and river bank areas and advised them to move to safe places as a precautionary measure. Public announcements and loudspeaker alerts have been issued in sensitive villages along the banks of Cauvery to prevent accidents.
Officials have urged people to avoid bathing, washing clothes or taking selfies near flood water.
“Incessant southwest monsoon rains over the Cauvery catchment area and upstream reservoirs in Karnataka have caused heavy flooding in Mettur,” a WRD official said.
“People should remain alert and cooperate with local authorities as discharge will continue depending on the flow.”
One of the major reservoirs of Tamil Nadu and the lifeline for delta irrigation, the Mettur dam had earlier this year reached its full level on June 29, July 5, July 20, July 25, August 20 and September 2 – unusually high numbers in a single monsoon season.
Officials said constant monitoring is being done to ensure safe water regulation and prevent flooding in the surrounding areas.
With the north-east monsoon expected to intensify later this month, officials are maintaining a high alert level to effectively manage future inflows.
Mettur Dam, built on the Kaveri River in 1934, remains important for irrigation, drinking water supply and power generation in the delta districts of Tamil Nadu.
–IANS
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