Chennai , 06 September (H.S.): The Cauvery water discharged from the Mettur reservoir has arrived at the Grand Anicut in Tiruchi district, enabling authorities to begin releasing it into the delta irrigation system on Sunday.

The flow reached the ancient barrage on Saturday after travelling through the Cauvery and crossing the Mukkombu regulator. Its arrival has brought relief to farmers awaiting water for standing crops and seasonal cultivation across the delta region.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had opened the Mettur dam on September 1 for irrigation. The discharge, which began at 5,000 cubic feet per second, was later raised to 7,000 cusecs based on the reservoir inflow and the requirements reported from agricultural areas.

Although the water had reached the Grand Anicut by Saturday morning, the barrage was yet to fill completely by evening because of the relatively modest flow. Water was seen collecting near the sluice gates regulating its movement into the Cauvery, Vennar and Kollidam rivers.

Water Resources Department officials said the release from the Grand Anicut for delta irrigation would begin on Sunday.

The discharge is expected to benefit agricultural areas supplied by the extensive network of rivers and canals branching from the ancient barrage, which serves as a crucial water-distribution point in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery irrigation system.

Six ministers — Anand, Vinod, Ramesh, Shahjahan, Mohammed Parvez and Rajkumar — are scheduled to attend the opening ceremony. MLA Vijay Saravanan, Thanjavur District Collector Revathi, Water Resources Department Chief Engineer Jayakumari and Monitoring Engineer Dileepan are also expected to participate, along with Members of Parliament and other legislators.

The ceremony will be held in a festive atmosphere. Ministers and senior guests will be escorted from the palace area to the barrage with drums and traditional percussion instruments.

Special prayers were conducted ahead of the release at the Anjaneyar temple on the banks of the Kollidam and at the Vinayakar and Karuppannasamy temples near the children’s park.

According to figures recorded on Saturday evening, the Mettur reservoir’s water level stood at 92.25 feet. The dam was receiving an inflow of 8,075 cusecs, while 7,000 cusecs was being discharged.

Farmers across the delta are expected to closely monitor the flow during the coming days, as the timely and regulated distribution of Cauvery water is crucial for standing crops and seasonal cultivation in Thanjavur and neighbouring districts.

Officials will adjust the discharge according to reservoir inflows, agricultural requirements and conditions across the canal network.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman