Even as the decision of the State government to release 10,000 cusecs of water into the Cauvery from the Mettur reservoir has brought cheers to devotees, who have come to Srirangam and Mayiladuthurai for the Maha Cauvery Pushkaram, and farmers, the water is likely to reach Tiruchi on Saturday.
The release was stepped up to 10,000 cusecs at 6 a.m. on Wednesday from 2,000 cusecs at 11 p.m. on Tuesday and 4,000 cusecs at 1 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to Public Works Department sources, the water released on Tuesday night has reached Mayanur barrage in Karur district thanks to good speed along the river. About 5,000 cusecs was realised at Mayanur on Wednesday evening. It will reach Mukkombu on Thursday evening.
A senior PWD official said that there would be hardly any percolation or evaporation loss as the river course was wet due to current spell of rain and opening of water for drinking water purpose recently. On normal circumstances, water would take at least three days to reach Tiruchi from the Mettur dam. However, it might not take more than two days this time due to wet condition all along the river course.
Meanwhile, the PWD is likely to maintain 10,000 cusecs for the first three days and thereafter gradually reduce the release. It will maintain 4,000 cusecs for the next three days and 2,000 cusecs for six days. However, the flow will be maintained up to September 24, the last day of Cauvery Maha Pushkaram festival.
Meanwhile, the water released into the Cauvery from the Mayanur barrage in Karur reached Tiruchi on Wednesday. Water is flowing over the Kambarasampettai check dam, bringing cheers to local residents, farmers and devotees.
Though the water flow was noticed along a side of the Cauvery, officials say that it will spread across the river on Friday.
It will enable devotees to take a holy dip at various bathing ghats including Amma Mandapam, Puli Mandapam, Ayyalamman and Chinthamani. The devotees are taking bath through sprinklers set up by the Tiruchi Corporation at Amma Mandapam bathing ghat.
