Chennai, June 12 (Reporter) Bringing smiles on the faces of farmers in Cauvery delta districts, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released the water from the Mettur for irrigation on the traditional date of June 12, Thursday. This was for the 20th time in its nine-decade long history, the water was released from the dam on the scheduled date for Kuruvai crop cultivation, thanks to adequate storage level in the dam. Mr Stalin opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur and showered rose petals as waters gushed out of it, much to the joy of the farmers. The release of water will help in irrigating 17.15 lakh acres of farm lands. Initially 3,000 cusecs of water was released from the dam and the discharge would be stepped up to 10,000 cusecs by this evening. It would be further increased in the coming days depending upon the need for Kuruvai crop cultivation, an official release said and appealed to the delta farmers to judiciously use the water . Several of his Cabinet colleagues, including Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam, PWD Minister E.V. Velu, among others and senior district officials were present when the water was released from the Dam on the scheduled date to enable delta farmers to take up kuruvai crop cultivation. The release said as on date the water level in the Reservoir stood at 114.910 ft as against its full capacity of 120 ft and the storage stood at 85.583 tmc (total 93.47 tmc). It said a total 138.52 tmc water was required for irrigating about 5,22,000 acres from June 12 to September 15 for taking up Kuruvai crp cutivation, which would be met by release of monthly quota of water by Karnataka as per the Supreme Court order, 125.68 tmc from Mettur dam and the balance of 12.84 tmc by augmenting rain and ground water resources. It said 118.17 tmc ft water was needed for Kuruvai cultivation in 4,91,200 acres in Namakkal, Karur, Trichy, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai districts and 7.51 tmc for irrigating 30,800 acres in Cuddalore and Ariyalur districts. It said from September 15 to January 28, for Samba and Thaladi cultivation, 268.47 TMC of water is needed for 12.10 lakh acres. The water release will also facilitate the generation of 460 megawatts of hydro power. Later, Mr Stalin inaugurated a photo exhibition organised by the Water Resources Department (WRD). Earlier, the Chief Minister held a road show all along his route from Mettur to the dam, by interacting with people, students,received petitions from them and shook hands with them. Mr Stalin was lustily cheered by a large number of people who had lined up on both sides of the roads to greet him. During his visit to Mettur, the WRD officials explained him on the ongoing desilting works in the delta districts and the steps being taken to ensure that the water released from the dam reached the tail-end areas...////...