<p>Water from the Mettur dam, the lifeline of delta farmers, was released today for irrigation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Samba (long-term) paddy crop to be raised in about 16 lakh acres in 12 districts would be irrigated by this water, a PWD official said.<br /><br />District Collector, V Sampath, raised the shutter gates of the dam, enabling the water to flow out.<br /><br />The outflow was 5000 cusecs. It would be increased to 13,000 cusecs before tomorrow morning, Sampath said.<br /><br />PWD Chief Engineer (Cauvery Delta) S Asokan, who earlier inspected the dam along with other officials, told PTI that the state had received 39.925 tmc of Cauvery water from Karnataka during June-August as against the stipulated 58.216 tmc, leaving a deficit of 18.291 tmc.<br /><br />He said the water release for irrigation would be gradually stepped up to reach 20,000 cusecs. Water would be released till January 28.<br /><br />The water release would also help in generation of about 440 mw of hydel power -- Old Power House (60 MW), Tunnel Power House (240 MW) and six barrages (180 MW), Asokan added.<br /><br />Water level in the dam this morning stood at 96.51 feet as against the maximum of 120 feet. Inflow into the dam was 2,683 cusecs.<br /><br />The water release for irrigation, traditionally done on June 12, had been delayed due to poor storage. Last year, water was released on August 10.</p>
<p>Water from the Mettur dam, the lifeline of delta farmers, was released today for irrigation.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Samba (long-term) paddy crop to be raised in about 16 lakh acres in 12 districts would be irrigated by this water, a PWD official said.<br /><br />District Collector, V Sampath, raised the shutter gates of the dam, enabling the water to flow out.<br /><br />The outflow was 5000 cusecs. It would be increased to 13,000 cusecs before tomorrow morning, Sampath said.<br /><br />PWD Chief Engineer (Cauvery Delta) S Asokan, who earlier inspected the dam along with other officials, told PTI that the state had received 39.925 tmc of Cauvery water from Karnataka during June-August as against the stipulated 58.216 tmc, leaving a deficit of 18.291 tmc.<br /><br />He said the water release for irrigation would be gradually stepped up to reach 20,000 cusecs. Water would be released till January 28.<br /><br />The water release would also help in generation of about 440 mw of hydel power -- Old Power House (60 MW), Tunnel Power House (240 MW) and six barrages (180 MW), Asokan added.<br /><br />Water level in the dam this morning stood at 96.51 feet as against the maximum of 120 feet. Inflow into the dam was 2,683 cusecs.<br /><br />The water release for irrigation, traditionally done on June 12, had been delayed due to poor storage. Last year, water was released on August 10.</p>