Hope of Mettur water before Aadi fest

Aadi 18 (Adiperukku) is a unique festival of Tamil Nadu farmers celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi to mark the beginning of the sowing season. The release of water from the Karnataka reservoirs (KRS and Kabini) in the last few days has given some hope to the delta region farmers.

Hogenakkal from where water flows into Mettur is having a heavy flow following the release of about 12,500 cusecs from KR Sagar in Mysore. Karnataka irrigation department on Wednesday increased the discharge of water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) to Tamil Nadu to clear the July quota, as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) order. 

Mettur dam level is rising by about six inches every day now. The full reservoir level (FRL) is 124.8 ft. The dead storage level is 74 ft. Since there are 17 more days for the Aadi 18 festival, farmers expect   release of water from the dam even as the inflow keeps rising. The festive mood is likely to set in soon in the region.