Alert: Move to safer areas

Ahead of release of water from Stanley reservoir at Mettur and Amaravathi dam, a flood warning has been issued to people living along the Cauvery in Karur and Tiruchi districts.

Although the quantum of water release from Mettur dam is yet to be decided, going by the current discharge of water from the reservoirs in Karnataka, public works department (PWD) officials expect the water release to be not less than 10,000 cusecs on Thursday.

If the current inflow into the Mettur dam continues for four to five days, there will be no option but to step up the quantum of release, though the requirement of water in delta districts is still on the lower side.

The water released from Amaravathi dam will also flow into the Cauvery in Karur district within the next few days. Although there has been fluctuation on the quantum of water release, PWD officials expect that at least 2,000 cusecs will be released at Mayanur, the confluence point of Amaravathi water.

Bracing for the heavy flow, PWD officials have begun work on determining the functionality of the shutter at Mukkombu upper anaicut.

Similarly, the shutters of Mayanur barrage on the upper stream of the Cauvery in Karur district, which has a water storing capacity of about one tmc of water, and the Left Main Canal and Right Main Canal, have also been checked to test their efficiency.

Karur Collector T. Anbalagan told The Hindu that he had received information that the discharge would be nominal initially. However, chances were bright for heavy discharge of water subsequently. The water released from the Amaravathi would also reach Mayanur simultaneously. Hence, flood warning had been issued to residents to move to safer areas. Besides conveying the message to villages on the embankments of the Cauvery and the Amaravathi, announcement had also been made in various villages through “tandora”.

Tiruchi Collector K. Rajamani, who held an urgent meeting on Tuesday with officials of revenue, PWD, Cooperation and Agriculture departments determined the state of preparedness for effective utilisation of the water released into the Cauvery.

He directed the PWD authorities to take effective steps to divert the water to all 75 tanks and lakes in the district. Immediate attention should be made on strengthening the bunds of water channels, tanks and lakes so as to prevent breach.

Source