Water release from Vaigai for Chithirai festival begins

Madurai: State govt has started releasing water for the Chithirai festival from Friday morning at the rate of 500 cubic feet per second through the link canal from Vaigai dam.The move comes after the govt had issued an order on April 22 to release 170 million cubic feet of water from April 24 to 29, for the Chithirai festival, in Madurai district, specially for the Lord Kallazhagar's procession into the Vaigai river, and to replenish the water sources of drinking water scheme wells by saturating the Vaigai riverbed in Madurai city as well.An official from the public works department (PWD) said the release of water will be accompanied by proper sewage treatment and cleaning drives to ensure that the water does not become polluted with waste and debris immediately. "We will also conduct an immediate cleaning drive following the festival to make sure the cleanliness of the river is maintained."Furthermore, as the released water will flow through three districts, Theni, Dindigul and Madurai, public have been warned by the Tamil Nadu water resources department (TNWRD) not to enter, bathe or go into the river while water is being released.Kallazhagar is scheduled to descend into the Vaigai on May 1.