Water was released from the historic Grand Anicut at Kallanai on Saturday for irrigation in the Cauvery delta region to meet the water requirements for Samba and Thaladi cultivation.
At a programme held at Kallanai, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Vinoth and Minorities Welfare Minister A. M. Shahjahan, along with others, released water into the Cauvery, Vennar, Grand Anicut Canal and Kollidam rivers for irrigation.
Earlier, water was released from the Mettur Dam for delta irrigation on September 1 at a discharge rate of 7,000 cubic feet per second. Following the arrival of the water at Kallanai, water was released into the irrigation channels.
As an initial measure, 1,000 cusecs was released into the Cauvery, 1,000 cusecs into the Vennar, 500 cusecs into the Grand Anicut Canal and 500 cusecs into the Kollidam.
Officials said the quantum of water released would be increased in the coming days depending on inflow and irrigation requirements.
The release is expected to provide irrigation facilities to 3,12,788 hectares of agricultural land in the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore.
With Samba and Thaladi cultivation activities set to begin in the Cauvery delta region, the release of irrigation water from Kallanai has raised expectations among farmers.
