India
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Tamil Nadu opens Mettur dam for 45-day release
The Hindu··1 Sept
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the Mettur dam for irrigation on September 1. The government plans an initial 45-day release. Storage was about 54.45 tmc ft against 93.47 tmc ft capacity, with the level at 91.56 ft. Officials expect about one tmc ft a day downstream. They said Cauvery water needs three weeks to reach the tail for Samba.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Cauvery delta farmers get irrigation water for early Samba from the September 1 opening.
- Planners still reserve about 10 tmc ft for environmental flows, drinking water and dead storage.
- If September inflows hold near recent averages, officials say release could stretch about two more weeks.
What's Happening
- The dam level was 91.56 ft with roughly 54.45 tmc ft stored when gates opened.
- Authorities are targeting an initial 45-day release window from September 1.
- An official said delaying the release would leave Samba crops short at the tail.
The Inflow Math Behind The Release
- Full reservoir level is 120 ft and capacity is 93.47 tmc ft.
- Northeast monsoon onset is cited around October 20, plus or minus seven days.
- Thirty-year Billigundulu data put average September realisation near 36.8 tmc ft.
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