Mon Jun 30 13:40:14 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Surplus Water Diverted to Kollidam River in Tiruchi, Providing Relief to Delta Farmers**

**TIRUCHI, June 30, 2025** – The Water Resources Department (WRD) has begun diverting surplus water from the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur into the Kollidam River from Upper Anicut (Mukkombu) in Tiruchi. This move comes as a welcome relief to farmers in the delta region, particularly those in tail-end areas, who are engaged in kuruvai cultivation.

The discharge from the Mettur Reservoir had decreased to 48,000 cusecs, but surplus water gradually reached Upper Anicut. Initially, approximately 5,000 cusecs were diverted into the Kollidam while 25,000 cusecs continued to flow in the Cauvery for irrigation. The discharge into the Kollidam was later increased to 10,000 cusecs, with the potential for further increases while maintaining the Cauvery flow at 25,000 cusecs.

Tiruchi Collector V. Saravanan had issued an alert urging residents along riverbanks to exercise caution and refrain from bathing or washing in the river due to the increased discharge. Livestock owners were also advised to keep their animals away from the river.

Cauvery Dhanapalan, president of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Sangankalin Kootamaippu, lauded the WRD’s actions. “Nature has come to our aid,” he stated, highlighting the significance of the surplus flow for farmers struggling with water realization in tail-end areas. He emphasized the need for authorities to prioritize filling irrigation tanks with the surplus water and to urgently repair any damaged sluices on water courses and waterbodies. The increased discharge of about 9,000 cusecs in the Vennar and the Cauvery from Kallanai will also provide the farmers in tail-end areas much relief.

Read More