Cauvery water to be released from Grand Anicut for delta irrigation today

Tiruchi ,Sept 6

Cauvery water will be released from the Grand Anicut on Sunday morning, bringing relief to farmers awaiting irrigation supplies across Tamil Nadu’s delta districts.
The water, discharged from the Mettur dam earlier this week, reached the historic barrage in Tiruchi district on Saturday after passing through the Mukkombu regulator.
Officials said the release from the Grand Anicut would feed the extensive network of rivers and irrigation channels serving Thanjavur and other Cauvery delta regions.
The arrival remained moderate on Saturday, leaving the barrage below its full level by evening. Water nevertheless accumulated near the sluice gates connected to the Cauvery, Vennar and Kollidam rivers, preparing the system for Sunday’s regulated discharge.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay opened the Mettur dam on September 1 to provide water for agricultural operations in the Cauvery-irrigated areas. The initial discharge of 5,000 cubic feet per second was later raised to 7,000 cusecs following an assessment of reservoir inflows and farmers’ requirements.
Ministers Anand, Vinod, Ramesh, Shahjahan, Mohammed Parvez and Rajkumar are scheduled to participate in the ceremony at the Grand Anicut. MLA Vijay Saravanan, Thanjavur District Collector Revathi, Water Resources Department Chief Engineer Jayakumari, Monitoring Engineer Dileepan, MPs and other legislators are also expected to attend.
Traditional drums and percussion will accompany the dignitaries from the palace area to the barrage. Special prayers were conducted at the Anjaneyar temple on the Kollidam bank and at the Vinayakar and Karuppannasamy temples nearby.
On Saturday evening, the Mettur reservoir stood at 92.25 feet, with an inflow of 8,075 cusecs and an outflow of 7,000 cusecs.
Water Resources Department officials will monitor the flow and revise releases according to reservoir inflows, canal conditions and crop requirements. Farmers hope the timely supply will support standing crops and seasonal cultivation across the delta during this crucial farming season.