Cauvery Water Released from Kabini Reservoir Set to Reach Tamil Nadu’s Mettur Dam

August 2, 2026

Water released from the Kabini Dam in Karnataka following heavy rainfall is expected to reach the Tamil Nadu border and enter the Mettur Dam by Monday night or Tuesday. According to Water Resources Department (WRD) officials, the downstream arrival was slightly delayed because the dry riverbed absorbed a significant portion of the initial river flow.

What Happened

Following recent heavy downpours in Karnataka, state authorities initiated the discharge of Cauvery river water from the Kabini Dam on Saturday morning. The initial discharge rate began at 500 cusecs and was scaled up to 5,000 cusecs by the afternoon. By Saturday night, the release rate was increased further to 25,000 cusecs.

Although officials originally anticipated the water would cross into Tamil Nadu by Sunday evening, dry conditions along the Cauvery riverbed absorbed much of the initial volume. As a result, the water’s progress downstream slowed, pushing its expected entry into Mettur Dam to late Monday or Tuesday.

Key Highlights

Water release from Kabini Dam commenced on Saturday at 500 cusecs and was stepped up to 25,000 cusecs by Saturday night.
Absorptive dry riverbed conditions delayed the water’s flow toward the Tamil Nadu border.
The discharge level of 25,000 cusecs is expected to be maintained over the coming days.
A continuous daily inflow of 25,000 cusecs can raise the water level at Mettur Dam by roughly four feet per day.
As of Sunday, Mettur Dam stood at 73.33 feet against its maximum height of 120 feet, with storage of 35.63 tmc ft out of a 93.47 tmc ft capacity.
The Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam currently stores about 20 tmc ft against its 49.45 tmc ft capacity and may fill within 10 days if heavy rainfall persists.

Why This Matters

The incoming water flow is vital for increasing storage levels at the Mettur Dam. Officials stated that if the reservoir receives an inflow of 25,000 cusecs consistently for a full day, its water level will rise by approximately four feet. Once the water level in the Mettur Dam exceeds 90 feet, the Tamil Nadu state government will evaluate releasing water from the reservoir to supply delta irrigation needs. Furthermore, substantial water transfers into Tamil Nadu will depend heavily on Karnataka’s Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam reaching its full capacity, at which point surplus flows will move into Mettur.

What to Watch Next

Officials project that the current 25,000 cusecs discharge from Kabini Dam will remain steady over the next few days. Attention is also on the KRS Dam, where ongoing rainfall could enable the reservoir to reach its 49.45 tmc ft capacity within 10 days, subsequently triggering surplus releases downstream to Tamil Nadu.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the released water expected to reach Mettur Dam?

The water is expected to reach the Tamil Nadu border on Monday and flow into the Mettur Dam by Monday night or Tuesday.

What is the current discharge rate from Kabini Dam?

The water discharge was gradually elevated to 25,000 cusecs by Saturday night and is anticipated to continue at this level for several days.

At what reservoir level will delta irrigation water be released from Mettur Dam?

State authorities will make a decision regarding water releases for delta irrigation once Mettur Dam’s reservoir level crosses 90 feet.

Source: Based on reporting from The Hindu.