Mettur discharge drops as rains slow down in catchment areas

COIMBATORE: Inflow into Mettur dam drastically reduced to 75,000 cusecs on Tuesday evening as rains eased in Cauvery catchment areas.

Over the last two days, the dam, which stays full since October 12, recorded an inflow of 1.95 lakh cusecs. From 50,000 cusecs on 12 October, the inflow into the dam increased sharply to 1.95 lakh cusecs on Sunday and continued with the same inflow till Monday.

Therefore, surplus water was discharged resulting in heavy flooding in several parts of Salem, Erode and Namakkal districts in the Western region. A flood alert was also issued in the Cauvery basin districts with River Cauvery in high spate.

As rains eased in the catchment areas, the inflow into the dam began to reduce from 1.45 lakh cusecs on Tuesday morning, to 1.25 lakh cusecs in the afternoon and further down to 75,000 cusecs in the evening. Notably, the inflow has nosedived by 1.20 lakh cusecs in a single day.

Officials said that the entire inflow of 75,000 cusecs has been discharged from the dam.

Over 1,000 people, who were displaced from flooded areas in Namakkal, Salem and Erode and sheltered in temporary relief camps, heaved a sigh of relief as water began to recede in their localities. However, it may take a few more days for them to move back to their houses.