Mettur Dam Reaches Full Reservoir Level at 120 Feet, Heavy Inflow Recorded
Image via The Hindu
Salem, Aug 22 (TheTrendingPeople.com): The Mettur dam in Salem district of Tamil Nadu reached its full reservoir level of 120 feet on Friday, following continuous inflows from the Cauvery river.
According to official data, the inflow into the dam was recorded at 27,301 cusecs, while the discharge stood at 26,136 cusecs. With the water level touching its maximum storage capacity, the surplus release has been regulated to maintain a safe balance.
The full reservoir level of the Mettur dam plays a critical role in supporting irrigation across several districts in Tamil Nadu, including Salem, Erode, Karur, and parts of Thanjavur. Farmers across the Cauvery delta region depend heavily on this water for paddy cultivation, making the storage levels of the dam a matter of high importance for the state’s agricultural activities.
Water experts noted that the sustained inflows are the result of rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas in Karnataka. With the dam already full, state authorities are closely monitoring the inflow to ensure flood management and safety of downstream regions.
The Mettur dam, built across the Cauvery river and commissioned in 1934, remains one of the largest reservoirs in Tamil Nadu, with a total capacity of 93.47 tmc ft. Every year, the opening of the dam for irrigation is awaited by lakhs of farmers in the delta region.
This year’s full storage is expected to benefit both agriculture and drinking water supply, while also supporting hydroelectric power generation. However, authorities have urged residents in low-lying downstream areas to remain cautious in view of the high discharge.