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Cauvery water reaches tail end 50 days earlier than last year
Trichy: Nine days after chief minister M K Stalin released
Cauvery water
from Mettur dam, it reached the tail end regulator at Melaiyur near Poompuhar on Saturday, marking a timely start to irrigation in the delta region and reviving hopes for a successful kuruvai season.
The water resources department (WRD) confirmed that water has reached the final point of distribution on schedule this year, in contrast to last year's delay. "We are starting water distribution immediately. Farmers are receiving irrigation nearly 50 days earlier than last year," a senior WRD official said.
Last year, a delayed southwest monsoon led to the late opening of Mettur dam on July 28, causing the water to reach the tail end only by Aug 5, too late for kuruvai cultivation in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts, where agriculture depends heavily on Cauvery water.
This year, water entered Mayiladuthurai district by June 20 and reached the tail end regulator on June 21.
Farmers have welcomed the timely arrival of water. "We urge WRD to ensure continuous water flow without implementing a turn system at Kallanai. Every field in the delta must receive water to maximize cultivation," said Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The Melaiyur regulator, also known as tail end regulator, is the final control point before the Cauvery flows into the sea at Poompuhar. From there, water is diverted into various irrigation channels.
Cauvery water also reached Kaviri Thula Kattam in Mayiladuthurai on Saturday, a site of religious significance. Due to last year's delay, festivals like Aadi Perukku were held modestly. "This year, we can celebrate Aadi Perukku and Aippasi Thiruvizha Theerthavaari with the flowing Cauvery," said A Appar Sundaram, a local activist.
Meanwhile, as of Saturday, the Mettur dam level stood at 113.69 feet with a storage of 83.76 tmcft. It receives an inflow of 18,220 cusecs from Karnataka and releases 15,836 cusecs downstream. Water discharge from Kallanai barrage includes 3,351 cusecs into the Cauvery, 3,350 cusecs into the Vennar, 1,011 cusecs into Grand Anicut Canal, and 848 cusecs into the Kollidam.
In preparation for the irrigation season, WRD has desilted 5,021 km of rivers, distributaries, and canals across 12 districts at a cost of ₹98 crore.
