TIRUCHY: Despite the release of 7,000 cusecs of water from Mettur on September 1 by the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, only 1,500 cusecs have reached the Upper Anicut (Mukkombu barrage) in Tiruchy on Friday (September 4).

Due to the low storage level in Mettur, the release of water for the Delta irrigation was delayed, resulting in kuruvai failure. However, the Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on September 1 released water from Mettur when it stood at 92 feet. As the inflow was 8,456 cusecs, 7,000 cusecs of water were released, which reached Mayanur barrage in Karur on Thursday.

Sources said that the flow was very low and Mayanur could get only 2,737 cusecs initially, and later it touched 4,081 cusecs. Subsequently, 2,050 cusecs of water were released from Mayanur to Upper Anicut.

On Friday at around 6 am, the water released from Mayanur reached the Upper Anicut. Despite 777 cusecs of water already being available, which was utilised for drinking purposes, the Upper Anicut could receive only 1,500 cusecs out of the 2,050 cusecs released from Mayanur.

Though officials predicted the flow would increase, they released the received 1,500 cusecs into the Cauvery. Officials said that the water released from the upper anicut would reach Grand Anicut (Kallanai) on Saturday and it be released for irrigation on Sunday.

Meanwhile, irrigation experts said that the water release would have to be above 16,000 cusecs for it to be effectively utilised for irrigation. At the present flow, the water could only flow into the main river, leaving the branch rivers and canals used to divert water for irrigation without sufficient water.

While farmers have already been fighting for the release of water into the irrigation canals, the meagre quantum of water could fail to meet their irrigation needs, irrigation experts stressed.