DHARMAPURI: Around 45,000 cusecs were flowing into Tamil Nadu at the zero point in Biligundlu on Monday following discharge of excess water from the Karnataka dams and the Mettur dam is expected to touch the 90-ft mark tonight or early Tuesday.
The excess water from the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar dams was being released into the river for the past 15 days. Sources in the Central Water Commission at Biligundlu said, “According to the morning reading, the water flowing at Biligundlu, the entry point of Tamil Nadu, was slightly over 45,000 cusecs and the quantum was increasing steadily.”
All activities at Hogenakkal, including bathing, fishing and coracle rides, were banned to the heavy current. Coracle operators, who have been hit by the ban, demanded the district administration to compensate their loss of earning. Mani, one of the coracle operators, said, “We depend on tourists for our livelihood. Owing to the ban, the tourist influx has dwindled drastically for the past 10 days. Hence, The government should extend compensation to coracle operators.”
A large number of police, fire and rescue services personnel and home guards have been deployed on the banks of Cauvery and near the falls to prevent people from bathing.
Meanwhile, reports from Salem said that the inflow into the Mettur dam at 8 am on Monday was 37,729 cusecs. The level rose to 87 feet against the Saturday’’s level of 83.10 feet.
The water level is likely to touch the 90 feet mark tonight or early Tuesday as more inflow from Karnataka is expected. The dam’s storage on Monday was 49.28 tmcft against its full capacity of 93.5 tmcft.
Six thousand cusecs that was being released from the dam for Aadi Perukku during last week from Aug 3 was stopped on Monday morning. Totally 800 cusecs was being discharged from the dam for drinking water purpose.