CHENNAI: The Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday directed that for celebrating the once-in-12-years Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam, water from Mettur dam would continue to be released from January 28 to February 25.
In addition, water for irrigation should be released from the dam beyond January 28 as cultivation in some parts of the Cauvery delta was yet to be completed. The dam would have been closed on January 28.
The Chief Minister, in a statement here, said lakhs of people would gather at Kumbakonam from various parts of the country on February 22. She had directed officials to provide all basic amenities during the festival.
The water from Mettur dam would help irrigate 70,000 acres on which there were standing crops. "As a special case, 6,000 cusecs of water will be released from Mettur dam from January 28 to February 25," her statement added.