The Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu is witnessing a gradual rise in water levels, buoyed by increased inflows from Karnataka’s Kabini and KRS reservoirs over recent days. This development comes as a significant relief amidst concerns over water scarcity in the region.
According to reports from officials, the inflow of water surged from 20,910 cubic feet per second (cusecs) on Wednesday morning to 21,520 cusecs by the afternoon of the same day. The cumulative inflow has been bolstered by substantial rainfall in the catchment areas of the Kabini and KRS reservoirs in Karnataka, contributing to the positive trend observed at the Biligundlu point. Officials have confirmed that Karnataka discharged approximately 45,000 cusecs of surplus water from the Kabini dam and an additional 651 cusecs from the KRS dam as of Wednesday evening. Furthermore, an excess of 5,000 cusecs from the Nugu reservoir is further supplementing the downstream flow of the Cauvery River.
Despite these encouraging developments, concerns remain regarding the outflow versus inflow dynamics. Officials noted that while the cumulative outflow from Kabini and KRS stands around 50,000 cusecs, the observed inflow at Biligundlu is currently at 20,600 cusecs. This discrepancy is attributed to the dry riverbed conditions, necessitating sustained inflows to facilitate full water flow downstream. To achieve optimal water storage at the Mettur reservoir, officials emphasize the need for daily inflows of at least one lakh cusecs. This target, once met, will enable necessary water releases for irrigation purposes. However, the current trends are viewed optimistically, with hopes pinned on contributions from the Bhavani and Amaravati rivers, crucial tributaries of the Cauvery, to bolster water levels for the upcoming Aadi Perukku festival. The recent water release dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with Karnataka initially withholding a portion of the mandated water supply, has underscored the ongoing challenges in managing interstate water allocations. This situation prompted political tensions in Tamil Nadu, leading to calls for legal intervention if necessary.
