Hogenakkal falls reopens for tourists

Dharmapuri: After 22-day ban, the Dharmapuri district administration has opened the Hogenakkal waterfall for tourists on Tuesday following the fall in inflow of water from Karnataka. But coracle raiding is still suspended.

"As water inflow reduced from 22,000 cusecs to 13,000 cusecs, the tourists and locals were allowed to take bath in the Cinifall," said an official.

Earlier, district collector K Vivekanandhan had imposed ban after heavy downpour in the catchment areas in Karnataka, which led to release of surplus water into the Cauvery. As the inflow was increasing the ban was extended and people living along the banks were moved to safer places.

"But in the last week, rainfall in the catchment areas was sparse resulting in decreasing inflow into the river," said the official, adding that the ban will be imposed again if inflow increases.

Meanwhile, the inflow into Mettur dam was decreasing too. The inflow reduced from 15,000 cusecs to 13,667 cusecs on Tuesday, while the outflow was 20,000 cusecs. As of on Tuesday evening the waterlevel in the dam was 97.85ft against the maximum level of 120ft.