Mettur Dam to open sluices on July 19 for Samba crop

Chennai: With the Mettur reservoir receiving copious inflows and the water level  reaching the 90-feet mark on Monday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has ordered the release of water from the dam on July 19 to facilitate Samba cultivation.

The dam has a full storage level (FSL) capacity of 120 feet. The water level continues to increase steadily as rains pound the catchment areas.

Mr. Palaniswami, who reviewed the storage position in the reservoir along with Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, senior Ministers and officials, on Monday, informed that the decision to open the dam was taken based on the current storage level, reports from IMD that the southwest monsoon would intensify in the Cauvery catchment areas and in anticipation of water being released from dams in Karnataka in the coming months.

As of today, the storage level stood at 89.18 ft with an inflow of 99,372 cusecs. “I have directed the officials to release water from Mettur dam for paddy cultivation from July 19,” Mr. Palaniswami said in a statement.

The water release would help to store water in 700 lakes and tanks, which would aid in irrigating the crop. It would also augment the ground water resources and help in meeting the drinking water needs, he added. The CM assured that adequate supply of paddy seed varieties would be ensured for the benefit of the farmers. He also directed the authorities to ensure availability of adequate stock of DAP, urea, potash and other fertilisers at all primary cooperative societies to help farmers in the samba crop cultivation. He also urged the farmers to utilise the water released from Amaravathy dam for irrigation purposes.

The announcement brings a major respite to farmers of the Cauvery Delta region in the State, who have been demanding that the Tamil Nadu government order the release of water from Mettur Dam.

Recalling the long drawn legal battle waged by the state, the Supreme court verdict and the formation of the Cauvery Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, Mr. Palaniswami said since the Mettur dam could not be opened on the usual date of June 12 due to inadequate storage, the state government announced the Kuruvai crop cultivation package at a cost of '115.67 crore for the benefit of farmers in delta districts.
 
Flood alert issued in Salem, Dharmapuri districts as Cauvery in spate:
 Meanwhile, flood alert has been issued in Salem and Dharmapuri districts as the Cauvery river is in spate due to the rain continuously pounding the catchment areas.

The district administration in Salem and Dharmapuri issued the flood alert warning the people living in the low-lying areas along the banks of the river in the area to relocate to safer places following high inflows into the Cauvery at Biligundlu - the river's entry point into Tamil Nadu, Salem Collector Rohini Bhajibhakare urged people in low-lying areas in and around Mettur Dam to move to higher areas and make arrangements for taking their livestock along with them. People have also been advised not to enter the river either for bathing or for washing clothes.

Dharmapuri Collector S. Malarvizhi also issued a flood warning to people living on the banks of the Cauvery on Sunday.