Mettur dam inflow rises as Cauvery water reaches Tamil Nadu

Inflow into the Mettur dam has increased to 7,151 cusecs, up from 5,760 cusecs, as water released from reservoirs in Karnataka continues to flow into Tamil Nadu via the Cauvery River.

The increase follows an intensification of the southwest monsoon in Karnataka, which boosted inflows into the Cauvery basin reservoirs. Since August 1, water has been released from the Kabini reservoir, with discharge levels fluctuating based on reservoir inflows. At its peak, the Kabini release reached approximately 27,000 cusecs. Additionally, the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam released about 1,000 cusecs toward Tamil Nadu.

While recent reductions in rainfall in the catchment areas have led authorities to decrease the volume of water released from Karnataka, existing flows continue to reach Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu. Currently, approximately 1,500 cusecs of water is being released from the Mettur dam to satisfy downstream drinking water requirements.