Chennai, Sep 2 (NationPress) The Mettur dam, a vital resource for Tamil Nadu along the Cauvery, has once more achieved its full reservoir level (FRL) of 120 feet, marking the sixth instance this year. Officials announced this development on Tuesday morning, following a significant increase in inflow from the river’s catchment areas in Karnataka.

With the reservoir at capacity, the water discharge from the dam has been escalated from 22,500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to 35,000 cusecs. Out of this, 22,500 cusecs are being released through the dam’s main powerhouse and the tunnel powerhouse, 800 cusecs via the canal, and the remaining 12,500 cusecs through the Ellis Saddle.

Authorities have issued a flood alert for residents living along the downstream banks of the Cauvery. Public announcements are being made to ensure that residents take necessary precautions.

This marks the sixth occasion this year that the Mettur dam has reached its FRL, with previous instances occurring on June 29, July 5, July 20, July 25, and August 20.

In contrast, the dam was filled to capacity only three times in 2024.

The recent surge in inflow followed consistent rainfall in the Cauvery basin, with inflow rising dramatically from 9,828 cusecs on August 27 to 35,800 cusecs by 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Established in 1934, the Mettur dam is the largest in Tamil Nadu and plays a critical role in the state’s agricultural economy. It irrigates nearly 18 lakh acres across 12 districts, including Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam.

Referred to as the “granary of South India”, the paddy cultivation in the Cauvery delta relies heavily on timely releases from the Mettur dam.

Water from the reservoir also supports cash crops like sugarcane and turmeric, while providing drinking water to multiple towns and facilitating power generation.

Farmers’ associations have expressed satisfaction over the stable storage levels this year, citing it as a confidence booster for the upcoming samba paddy crop beginning in September. However, officials have advised residents in low-lying downstream areas to exercise caution as high releases will likely persist until inflows decrease.

The repeated filling of the Mettur dam this year illustrates both the abundance of the monsoon and the difficulties in managing irrigation needs alongside flood control in Tamil Nadu’s core regions.