A breach in the third shutter at the Lower Mettur Barrage Power House at Chekkanur village, near Mettur, led to water gushing out of the barrage causing wastage of water that was stored for power generation.
Located about 8 km from Mettur dam, the barrage is one of the seven barrages in Erode, Salem and other districts constructed across the River Cauvery in the downstream of Mettur that can generate 30 MW each. The barrage with 18 shutters was commissioned in 1998. Water was stored in the barrage and power was generated. After the discharge from Stanley Reservoir was stopped for irrigation and only 500 cusecs of water was released for drinking water purpose, maintenance work was undertaken in the barrage. The stored water was released and maintenance works carried out. After the works, shutters were closed and water was being stored as power generation resumed.
On Wednesday, due to water pressure, the third shutter broke away and water gushed out in the river. Power generation was halted and engineers from Mettur Dam rushed to the spot. They are in the process of repairing or replacing the shutter.
