Inflow to Hogenakkal surges to 4,000 cusecs

Water inflow into Hogenakkal, the critical entry point of the Cauvery River into Tamil Nadu, surged to 4,000 cusecs on Friday morning, doubling from the previous day, following concentrated rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This uptick offers a marginal, albeit temporary, reprieve to Tamil Nadu amidst an acute water crisis that has severely hampered agricultural prospects and deepened inter-state tensions. The modest increase in inflow, however, arrives against a backdrop of severe deficit: Tamil Nadu received 60% less Cauvery water in the first half of June, with reservoir levels in both riparian states alarmingly low. The Cauvery Water Management Authority had mandated a release of 9.91 TMC for June, yet actual flows at Biligundlu were significantly below this target. This scarcity has already forced the delay of the customary June 12 opening of the Mettur Dam for Kuruvai cultivation, a critical lifeline for delta farmers. Further exacerbating the delicate situation, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution vehemently opposing Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu Dam project, underscoring the enduring and contentious nature of the decades-old water dispute. Officials from the Water Resources Department remain stationed at Biligundlu, maintaining a vigilant watch over the incoming water, as the reliability of sustained flows hinges on the Southwest Monsoon's erratic progression. With the monsoon's delayed onset and the India Meteorological Department forecasting below-normal rainfall influenced by developing El Niño conditions, the current surge might be fleeting. The immediate outlook for agricultural communities in Tamil Nadu remains precarious, with the state government's next moves regarding Mettur Dam operations and ongoing legal challenges over the Mekedatu project poised to define the coming weeks.