The Stanley Reservoir in Mettur of Salem district reached its full reservoir level (FRL) of 120 feet for the seventh time this year on Monday (October 20, 2025), following which 30,000 cusecs of surplus water was discharged into the Cauvery river.

Owing to heavy rain in the catchment areas in Karnataka, the dam has been receiving substantial inflows in recent days. An official from the Water Resources Department said after the reservoir attained its full level, the discharge was increased to 20,000 cusecs through the dam’s power house and tunnel power house.

Staff at the downstream barrages have been instructed to maintain the discharge levels without any deviation. Irrigation discharge through the east and west bank canals continued at 500 cusecs.

At 8 a.m. on Tuesday (October 21), the inflow was 30,500 cusecs, while the water level stood at 120 feet, the FRL of the dam. The storage was 93.47 tmc ft. against the dam’s capacity of 93.47 tmc ft.

Of the total discharge, 22,300 cusecs was released through the power houses, while 7,700 cusecs was discharged through the 16-vent Ellis Saddle surplus sluices.

The official said a flood alert has been issued to 11 districts in the delta region, and residents in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer locations.