Tamil Nadu’s Mettur dam, which is one of the largest dams in the state, reached full reservoir level (FRL) on Saturday. The dam’s Stanley reservoir reached its full reservoir level of 120 feet on Saturday evening, according to reports.
The water inflow to the dam has been steadily increasing and the water level stood at 117.59 feet as on Friday.
According to reports, the inflow to the dam on Thursday evening stood at 15,000 cubic feet per second, increased to 25,000 cusecs on Friday morning and later to 50,000 cusecs on the same day, according to reports. By Friday evening, water inflow stood at 65,000 cusecs.
This is the second consecutive year that the Mettur dam, which stands across the Cauvery river, reached full capacity. Back in July 2018, the dam reached full capacity after a gap of 5 years.
This is the 43rd time that the dam is reaching full capacity since it was constructed.
Several reports also stated that at Biligundu, in Krishnagiri district - which is said to be the point of entry of the Cauvery river in Tamil Nadu, the water inflow stood at 75,000 cusecs on Friday.
Considering the huge levels of inflow, the dam authorities had increased discharge of water from the dam from 18,000 cusecs to 25,000 cusecs by Friday.
The storage will be maintained at full capacity for a few days if the inflow remains the same. Catchment areas of the Cauvery are predicted to see several days of continuous rains ahead.
Meanwhile, people living in the low-lying areas along the Cauvery river have been moved to safer locations.