The Hindu : 13,000 cusecs realised in Mettur dam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 18, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

13,000 cusecs realised in Mettur dam

By Our Special Correspondent

Increased flow in Hogenakkal following the release from the Kabini dam in Karnataka.

SALEM JULY 17. After the release of water from the Kabini dam by the Karnataka Government, about 13,000 cusecs of water was realised in the Mettur dam at 4.30 p.m. today.

PWD sources told The Hindu that 14,271 cusecs of water was released from the Kabini dam on Monday. Today, Karnataka authorities reduced the discharge to 13, 845 cusecs.

The water level in the Mettur dam till 4 p.m. today stood at 33.48 ft. (full level 120 ft.), and the capacity at 8.959 tmcft. While the inflow was 907 cusecs, the outflow was maintained at 1,126 cusecs.

The sources said if water were to be released for irrigation, the capacity should reach at least 30 tmcft. Or, the flow must be consistently high. However, only after studying the inflow pattern for the next seven days a clear picture would emerge. Later, the quantum of release could be decided, they said.

Our Dharmapuri Staff Reporter reports:

A team from the Central Water Commission was present at Biligundlu, the point where the Cauvery enters into Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, to measure the quantum of water received by Tamil Nadu.

Biligundlu, near Hogenakkal, has been a permanent point where the CWC takes measurement of water entering into Tamil Nadu by adopting the `Indian Standard Velocity Area Method for Measurement of Flowing Water in Open Channels', on a daily basis. Following the reported release from the Kabini reservoir, the measurement was taken today. However, officials present there refused to divulge any details stating that the quantum of water entering Tamil Nadu would be indicated to both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments as ``it was a highly sensitive issue.''

Naga Mohan, CWC executive engineer, said ``We are not even aware of it or for that matter bothered as to whether the water had been released from the Kabini or the Krishna Raja Sagar dam or is it the excess water received in the catchment areas of the Cauvery.

We are only here to measure the quantum of water that is entering Tamil Nadu and inform both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments on the measurements recorded.''

However, sources within the CWC claimed that the quantum of water that entered Tamil Nadu averaged around 11,000 cusecs. It was also pointed out that the catchment areas for the Kabini reservoir was mainly in Kerala, and following heavy rains there, the inflow into the reservoir had increased.

But with the dam as well as its channels not strong enough to sustain the excess water, the water was instead being released to Tamil Nadu.

The water, which was released on Monday from the Kabini reservoir in Karnataka, reached Biligundlu at around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, traversing nearly 160 km.

The Hogenakkal waterfalls, which was under a dry spell, experienced increased water flow following the release.

The water from Hogenakkal has to traverse another 80 km before reaching the Mettur dam.

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