Water was released from the Grand Anicut for samba cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts on Thursday.
As shutters were lifted by Ministers and the Collectors, water gushed out of the sluices of the Cauvery, Vennar and Grand Anicut Canal systems.
Paddy seeds were sprinkled and pujas offered at the Anjaneya and Ganesha temples at the anicut before the shutters were lifted. The water released from the Mettur dam on August 10 reached the Grand Anicut on Wednesday evening.
Ministers R. Vaithilingam, R. Kamaraj, K.A. Jayapal, C. Vijaya Baskar and T.P. Poonatchi and Collectors N. Subbaiyan (Thanjavur), M. Mathivanan (Tiruvarur), T. Munusamy (Nagapattinam) and C. Manoharan (Pudukottai) and farmers from various districts, including S. Ranganathan, Secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, were present.
An official release said 12 lakh acres would get water for irrigation in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and Cuddalore districts.
About 2,300 cusecs was released in the Cauvery and the Vennar, 1,800 cusecs in the Grand Anicut Canal and 600 cusecs in the Kollidam. In all, 7,000 cusecs was released from 1 p.m. The quantum will be increased, depending upon the requirement.
Samba paddy is expected to be raised on 2.82 lakh acres in Thanjavur district, 3 lakh acres in Tiruvarur and 2.75 lakh acres in Nagapattinam.
