With almost all the reservoirs of the Western Ghats reaching their maximum capacity and heavy rains continuing in their catchment areas, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has sounded a high alert along the Cauvery and Kolidam rivers.
The inflow of 1,96,453 cusecs of water across the Kaveri river at Peacock Regulator in Karur district at 6 pm on Wednesday came down to 1,50,657 cusecs at 6 pm on Thursday. About 75,000 cusecs of water was released from Mettur on Thursday evening from about 1.50 lakh cusecs, which has brought relief to the water managers. However, officials say that the threat of flood is not over.
According to sources, apart from Stanley Reservoir, Bhavani Sagar Reservoir, Amaravati Dam, Nanganchiyar Dam and Kudaganaru Dam were full and they were discharging full volume of flow. After passing through its routes, the flow from the dams was getting into the Kaveri river at various points. The flow of Palaru and Puranthaliyaru is also getting in the Kaveri river. There was a possibility of an increase in the flow of forest streams due to the continuing heavy rains in the western and some southern districts of the state.
“The reduction in the flow of flood waters from Mettur is certainly a matter of relief. However, we are still on high alert as moderate to heavy rains continue in the catchment areas of various dams,” says R Sorankumar, superintending engineer, WRD, Tiruchi.
Kaveri and Kollidum were in spate, K. Manivasan, Principal Secretary, WRD, visited Upper Anicut at Mukkombu on Wednesday. He has been camping in Tiruchi for two days to monitor the flood situation here and in other delta districts. He directed the senior officers to check the officers and field staff on flood patrol duty. At midnight on Wednesday, Tiruchi Collector M. Pradeep Kumar inspected and checked whether flood patrol officers were on duty at Upper Anicut.
Mr. Soornakumar said that the focus is on diverting the flood waters without impacting the standing crop and infrastructure at present.
At 15 places along the banks of Cauvery and Kolidam, washing and soil movement over the dam was reported. All of them have been fixed, Mr. Soornamumar said