With just one foot left to achieve the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 120 feet, the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur were opened on Tuesday prompting authorities to issue a flood warning to those living on the banks of River Cauvery in in 11 districts of Tamil Nadu.
As the inflow owing to the release of water from dams in Karnataka remains steady, the Mettur Dam will achieve its FRL by tonight for the first time in two years. As a precautionary measure, the Tamil Nadu government asked administrations in 11 districts — Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Ariyalur, Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Perambalur –to be on high alert. The collectors have been asked to take steps to evacuate people living in low-lying areas and ensure that people don’t step into the river.
Erode officials are working on the precautionary activities, it is advised general public not to panic as the situation is under control.