– A total of 9,705 cusecs was released as of Saturday morning.
– Of this, 9,700 cusecs flowed into the Bhavani River; five cusecs were diverted to the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal.
– Discharge volume may increase further up to a maximum potential flow of 25,000 cusecs depending on inflows.
– Residents in low-lying areas and near the banks of Bhavani River have been advised to evacuate due to rising water levels.
– Precautionary measures have been implemented by district authorities for public safety and protection of property.
– Public access to kodiveri Anicut is restricted until further notice due to increased water flow.- Bathing, fishing, and coracle operations in the Bhavani River are temporarily banned.
The release of surplus water from Bhavanisagar Dam highlights a critical aspect of flood management amidst increasing inflows during monsoon season. given its storage nearing full capacity at over two-thirds utilization (28.75 TMC ft out of total capacity), timely action ensures controlled downstream discharge via strategic division into river systems like Bhavani River and LBP canal.
The precautionary protocols adopted-advising evacuation in vulnerable areas-indicate proactive governance on disaster risk mitigation while safeguarding both life and property. Restrictions placed on public activities such as bathing or fishing underscore an appropriate response balancing safety concerns with ecological impact due to sudden high-flow conditions.
Scaling up potential discharge volumes up to 25,000 cusecs will require continued monitoring alongside engagement with affected communities living along vulnerable zones near riversides-a challenge that urban planners need systemically managing long-term dependencies around dams’ overflow cycles regionally across civic capacities e.g coordination locally sites-nowamt+
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