— Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan
THROWN OPEN: Water gushing out from the Stanley reservoir, which was opened for irrigation on Wednesday.
METTUR: Water was released from the Stanley reservoir on Wednesday for irrigation. Collector N. Mathivanan opened the sluice gates at 6 p.m. and showered flowers on water gushing out from the dam.
The release was delayed more than a month due to inadequate storage. This was the 21st time the reservoir was opened for irrigation in July. The scheduled opening date is June 12. The reservoir has been opened on the scheduled date 14 times so far.
A total of 6,000 cusecs of water was released initially. Water level in the dam stood at 109.850 feet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The capacity is 78.196 tmcft. The inflow was 94,317 cusecs.
Public Works Department officials said the inflow was expected to cross one lakh cusecs by midnight. The dam is likely to reach its full level (120 feet) before Friday, they said.
The dam realised 44.880 tmcft of water between June 1 and July 18, which was 9.33 tmcft more than the quantum of water prescribed by the Cauvery tribunal.
Water released from the reservoir will benefit farmers in 11 districts. The dam will remain open till January 28, 2008.
Mettur MLA G.K. Mani, Superintendent Engineer R. Subramanian, Salem Corporation Commissioner M. Jayaraman and senior officials were present.
Grand Anicut
Special Correspondent from Thanjavur writes:
Water from the Grand Anicut will be released into the Cauvery, Vennar and Grand Anicut canal for kuruvai cultivation in the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam on July 21, according to Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Nallusamy. Water from the Mettur dam is expected to reach the Grand Anicut on July 20. “We are releasing the water ahead of the planned date of July 25. Farmers should use this opportunity and take up the cultivation. Water should be used judiciously. Besides providing water for kuruvai, there will be assured supply for samba this year” the official said.
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