Cauvery is almost in spate in border areas of Tamil Nadu as nearly 1,00,000 cusecs of water gushed in at Biligundlu, the entry point to the State from Karnataka.
Thanks to copious rains in catchment areas, Karnataka is releasing surplus water from Krishnarajasagar and Kabini reservoirs.
If inflow touches 1,00,000 cusecs by Saturday night, it will be the highest quantum of water entering Tamil Nadu border in the past 10 years.
To avert any untoward incident, police has enhanced security at Hogenakkal, where tourists and local residents have been asked to keep away from the gushing waters.
As per the sources of Central Water Gauge Center in Biligundlu, the inflow was 95,000 cusecs at 3 pm and was expected to touch 1,0000 cusecs by Saturday night.
District Revenue Officer P Ramar said that all the approach ways to cross the river into Karnataka border villages, including Marukottai, were sealed.
A flood alert has already been sounded and announcements are being made in the villages.
As per Dharmapuri collector’s orders, flood alert ‘tom-toms’ have been made in the area.
According to official sources, the highest inflow received at Biligundlu was 2,00,000 cusecs in 2003.
Meanwhile, water level at Stanley Reservoir in Mettur has crossed 91 feet and is set to touch 100 feet in 36 hours, PWD chief engineer Painthamil Selvan said.
At 4 pm, 77,738 cusecs of water flowed into the dam.
The inflow is expected to remain high in the coming days, he added.
In 2005, a similar situation had prevailed and the Mettur dam touched its full capacity of 120 feet.
On Saturday, the water level touched 91.370 feet and the storage increased to 54.231 tmcft as against full capacity of 93.5 tmcft.
As much as 6,435 cusecs of water, including 3,000 cusecs for Aadi Perukku festival ordered by the Chief Minister, was released from the dam on Saturday.