Water is likely to be released from Grand Anicut (Kallanai) for samba cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam on August 4.
Water released from the Mettur dam on August 2 is expected to reach the Grand Anicut on Sunday. With the water level in Mettur dam crossing 100 ft, the government has decided to open the sluice gates on Friday preceding Aadi Perukku .
People of delta districts are happy that they have water this year in the river for celebrating Aadi Perukku on Saturday.
From Grand Anicut, 3,000 cusecs was released into Cauvery, 2,500 cusecs into the Vennar, and 1,500 cusecs into Grand Anicut canal on Friday.
This year’s Aadi Perukku celebrations are likely to be special as the rivers in the last few years were dry and people celebrated the festival with borewell water.
In the last three decades, sluice gates in Mettur dam had been opened seven times in August.