Chennai, DHNS: Tamil Nadu farmers, especially those in the delta region were a happy lot on Thursday as the Cauvery water released from Karnataka reached Biligundlu, the entry point on the inter-state border.

Officials of Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department, a wing of Public Works Department, accompanied by Central Water Commission authorities monitored the inflow of water at Biligundlu. “The exact inflow would be accessed by Friday morning”, a senior PWD official told DH. However, the inflow at Hogenakkal might have crossed 10,000 cusecs. The information on the inflow was communicated to Karnataka officials immediately, he said.

Following the Supreme Court order, Karnataka will be releasing 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 10 days. Accordingly, about 10,000 cusecs is being released from the KRS reservoir and about 5,000 cusecs from the Kabini dam.

However, farmers’ organisations in Tamil Nadu said that the inflow should be closely monitored as any reduction in the quantum of water released would lead to violation of the apex court order.

Meanwhile, the PWD officials in Tamil Nadu are gearing up to release water from the Mettur reservoir after it reaches the 85-feet mark. “At present, the water level in the Mettur dam is about 75 feet. Since inflow will increase soon, the level is expected to cross 80 feet in the next few days,” the official said.

Various political parties in Tamil Nadu have requested Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to ensure that Karnataka abides by the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.