The decision on closing the Mettur reservoir for delta irrigation was on Monday, the customary date for closure, deferred since this was a ‘distress year’.
“The delta irrigation period comes to an end on January 28, but in years of distress, the date gets postponed,” officials said.
The dam was closed thrice over the past one year owing to the insufficient storage levels. Though supply to the Cauvery delta had been stopped, a small quantum of 700 cusecs was being released for drinking water purposes. On Monday, the quantum of release was further brought down to 500 cusecs. A full closure would be effected once the demand from the delta was addressed, official sources, adding that till then, a small quantum for drinking water would be released from the current storage. As of Monday, the level at the dam stood at 34.57 feet as against the full height of 120 feet. The storage was 9.466 tmcft as against the full capacity of 93.5 tmcft.