Water was released from Grand Anicut into Cauvery, Vennar and Grand Anicut Canal divisions on Sunday for samba cultivation in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.
Ko.Si. Mani, State Co-operation Minister, U. Mathivanan, Dairy Development Minister, N. Selvaraj, Forest Minister, M.S. Shanmugham, Collector, Thanjavur, and M. Chandrasekaran, Collector, Tiruvarur, PWD engineers and farmers lifted the shutters in the Cauvery, Vennar and Grand Anicut canal divisions. Water gushed out much to the delight of farmers and onlookers.
Later speaking to presspersons, Mr. Mathivanan said that water released from Mettur dam on July 28 reached Grand Anicut on Saturday. About 12,000 cusecs of water was released from Mettur dam and the realisation at Grand Anicut till Sunday was 10,000 cusecs.
The Minister said that 4000 cusecs each was let out into Cauvery and Vennar and 1000 cusecs each into Grand Anicut canal and Kollidam for samba paddy cultivation.
Quantum of water released will be increased depending upon the increase in the inflow into Mettur dam.
The minister also said that inflow into Mettur dam is likely to increase. On Sunday the dam received 18,000 cusecs.
It has been planned to raise samba and thaladi on 1,40,000 hectares in Thanjavur district, 1,35,000 hectares in Tiruvarur district and 1,10,000 hectares in Nagapattinam district this year.
M. Moorthy, Chief Engineer, PWD, S. Ranganathan, Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, MLAs Durai Chandrasekaran and Mahesh Krishnaswamy, were present.
