PWD begins removal of sand shoals in Cauvery

In a significant step, the Public Works Department (PWD) has begun the task of removing sand shoals on the downstream of Cauvery from the Mukkombu Upper Anicut.

According to sources, sand shoals have been formed at several places from the water releasing points due to continuous flow of water in the Cauvery for more than a month. Water is flowing in the Cauvery since the Mettur dam was opened for irrigation on July 19. Though the flow was maintained between 10,000 cusecs to 15,000 cusecs initially, the inflow was stepped up gradually due to heavy discharge of water into the Mettur dam from the reservoirs in Karnataka. The officials had to discharge entire quantum of water into the Cauvery from Mettur. At one point of time, about 2.5 lakh cusecs was realised at Mukkumbu regulator. The downstream of Cauvery from Mukkumbu carried about 65,000 cusecs for a week. The Coleroon, which is opened for discharging surplus water into the sea, carried the maximum of about 1.7 lakh.

The heavy flow resulted into the formation of sand shoals and sandbanks at various locations, thereby increasing the height of surface level in the Cauvery. Officials view that it may hinder the flow of water in the river particularly when the vents are open on the regulator across the adjacent Coleroon river due to the collapse of nine shutters a few days ago.

A PWD official told The Hindu that though the sill level in the Cauvery was lower than the Colerron river, the formation of sand shoals due to continuous heavy flow for several days had increased the surface level in the Cauvery.

Hence, it had been decided to remove sand shoals for about 2 km downstream of the Cauvery from the Mukkombu. A floating earth mover had been pressed into served.

One more earthmover being brought from Chennai would join the operation on Monday.

He said the task would reduce the surface level in the Cauvery. It would be completed within a week. It would ensure uninterpreted supply of water for irrigation to the delta districts.

Source