Tennessee: Power output grows when irrigation water from Mettur dam increases

Tennessee: In response to growing irrigation demand across delta areas, the amount of water released from the Mettur dam for irrigation in the Cauvery delta has been raised to 9,500 cubic feet per second (cusecs).

The action was taken, according to officials, to guarantee a sufficient supply of water for canal-fed irrigation systems and standing crops as the growing season advances.

The amount of water released from the dam has been steadily increased over the last several weeks in response to the delta region’s growing needs. The flow for irrigation was increased to 6,000 cusecs on this month’s tenth. Since then, the authorities have improved the release because to the growing demand from farmers in the Cauvery delta, especially in tail-end districts.

Officials stated that the amount of water released for delta irrigation has now been raised to 9,500 cusecs. Furthermore, command areas in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and surrounding districts that rely on distributary canals and feeder channels would benefit from the release of 400 cusecs expressly for canal irrigation.

As is customary, the hydroelectric power plant connected to the Mettur dam is primarily responsible for the flow of water intended for agriculture. As a consequence, electricity generation has increased proportionately.

The increased flow has increased the hydroelectric station’s power production to 90 megawatts, increasing the state’s supply of green energy. According to officials, the controlled outflow increase was designed to balance reservoir management and irrigation demands while accounting for inflows, storage levels, and downstream needs.

Farmers’ groups in the delta have applauded the action, pointing out that agricultural stability, particularly in canal-irrigated regions, depends on timely water supply.

One of Tamil Nadu’s most significant agricultural areas is the Cauvery delta, and irrigation from the Mettur dam is essential to the continuation of rice agriculture and related farming operations. Releases will be modified in the next days depending on rainfall, reservoir inflows, and field-level demand, according to authorities, who stated the situation would continue to be continuously watched.