Date:06/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/06/stories/2003080603990500.htm

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Mettur inflow rising steadily

By Our Staff Reporter

METTUR AUG. 5. For the first time this year, the Stanley Reservoir here realised an inflow of 7,096 cusecs this evening.

According to sources in the Public Works Department, the inflow has started rising since last night. The dam, which had been receiving 2000-odd cusecs in the last 10 days, showed a sharp increase from last night.

The reservoir registered 4,234 cusecs at 8 p.m. Monday. It increased further to 5,608 cusecs at 8 a.m. today and later to 6,807 at 12 noon. The reading in the evening was 7,096 cusecs. ``The realisation is good and fast,'' pointed out a senior official in the dam.

The Government, on July 29, announced drawal of 2,000 cusecs for five days to meet drinking water needs in downstream towns and to celebrate `Adi Perukku'. The reservoir at that time was registering an inflow of 2049 cusecs. The Chief Minister, however, ordered extension of water release for three more days from August 3, stepping up the outflow to 3,000 cusecs.

By the time the inflow had also started crossing the 3,000-mark.

Though no official confirmation was available on whether the Kabini reservoir surplussed or not, reports from Karnataka claimed that ``good-to-heavy rains'' had been lashing the catchment areas of the dam and upstream Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu for the last three days.

The Mettur dam level today, was 28.62 feet (full level 120 feet) with a storage of 6,987 mcft. The outflow was 3,045 cusecs though the demand was 3,000 cusecs.