Mettur Dam water level drops to 55 feet as outflow exceeds inflow

Water available in the Mettur dam can sustain irrigation needs for only the next three weeks. Continuous water supply for irrigation depends entirely on upcoming seasonal rains.

Current Status

Rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas caused water inflow into the Mettur dam to reach 5,374 cubic feet per second on Tuesday evening. Water is being released from the dam for delta irrigation at a rate of 6,000 cubic feet per second. Since the outflow is higher than the inflow, the water level in the dam dropped to 55.04 feet on Tuesday evening. The total water stock in the dam currently stands at 21.13 thousand million cubic feet.

Water Allocation

Because release rates were adjusted, out of the existing water stock, 9.60 thousand million cubic feet has been set aside for drinking water needs and protecting fish wealth. The remaining water can be used for irrigation over a period of three weeks. Uninterrupted water supply for delta irrigation will continue only if seasonal rains support the dam levels within these three weeks.

Context

Water levels in major reservoirs fluctuate depending on seasonal rainfall patterns and catchment area inflows. Agricultural activities in delta regions rely heavily on these reservoir levels during dry periods. Timely monsoon rains are crucial for maintaining adequate water supplies for both drinking and farming needs.