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Mettur dam to open August 15

Cauvery storage close to 100 feet as monsoon revives
Chennai: Water from the Mettur Dam would be released from August 15 to facilitate irrigation in the Cauvery delta areas, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced in the Assembly on Thursday. Ms Jayalalithaa said the release of water would help the farmers to take up the cultivation of Samba paddy in 12 lakh acres
Since the rainfall in the Southwest monsoon has been increasing in Cauvery’s catchment areas in Karnataka and Kerala, Harangi, Hemavati, Krishnarajasagar and Kabini dams are reaching their maximum levels.
The water level at the Mettur reservoir stood at 93.24 feet (against the maximum of 120 feet) on Wednesday evening. Normally, water from the Mettur dam, the lifeline of Cauvery delta farmers, is released on June 12, but owing to poor storage in the reservoir, water could not be released as scheduled.
“This year on June 12, the water-level was 44.40 ft and the South West monsoon set in on June 5 and later receded,” she explained.
“Keeping in mind the present water situation in Mettur and the forecast for good rainfall in Cauvery catchments, Mettur dam will be opened for irrigation for the benefit of 12 lakh acre of agricultural land, on 15 August,” the Chief Minister said and expressed the hope that this would prevent wastage of water coming to Mettur dam.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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