There has been an increase of 28% in water levels in the reservoirs across TN in just 8 days. As a result, the combined storage in the reservoirs has gone to 71% now.
The widespread rains across TN and in the catchment areas of Cauvery in Karnataka and Kerala have led to increase in the combined storage of about 90 reservoirs now. The combined storage in the reservoirs has increased to 163.630 tmc as against the total capacity of 224.297 tmc, rising by 27.61 percent from 44% in just 8 days.
Point is that there are wide disparities among the reservoirs in the state. Information is that 13 reservoirs have 80 to 90% storage but 8 reservoirs have zero level.
Since 17tth July, due to heavy inflow from Karnataka, the Stanley reservoir at Mettur in TN is brimming with water. It is noteworthy that this 90yr old reservoir recorded an inflow of 1.05lakh cusecs of water taking the water to 118.2feet. From 6pm, the WRD has decided to discharge water from the reservoir to 23000 cusecs.
As per an official belonging to WRD it was clear that the discharge of water from the reservoir was increased gradually from 12000 to 20000 in the noon. Free flow of water to the tail end areas has been possible due to desilting of 5339km stretch of channels and supply canals in 13 Delta districts in TN. As a result, the water bodies would be filled up fast in the delta regions for irrigation in the forthcoming seasons.