It was a satisfactory year for Tamil Nadu in realisation of the Cauvery water at the Mettur reservoir for water year 2007-08 (June 1 to May 31). During the year, the State received 346 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of water as against 205 tmcft prescribed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its interim order in 1991, an excess of 141 tmcft. In the previous irrigation year ie 2006-07, the State received 235.93 tmcft. Last year the reservoir could be opened only on July 18 for kuruvai cultivation in delta districts as the storage on June 12 was not sufficient. Only in July, the reservoir started receiving good inflow, enabling authorities to open it. During 2007-08, the reservoir received more than the quantity fixed by the tribunal for all months except in June, January and February. In the first four months itself i.e. during the South West Monsoon (June to September), the reservoir received more than 205 tmcft, fixed by the Tribunal for the entire year. As against 137 tmcft for these four months, the reservoir recorded 236.62 tmcft. The inflow in July was 86.719 tmcft as against the prescribed quantity of 42.76 tmcft, in August it was 90.728 tmcft as against 54.72 tmcft and in September it was 57.149 tmcft as against 29.36 tmcft. Only in June, the State received less than the quantity prescribed. The inflow during the month was 2.026 tmcft as against allotted quantity of 10.16 tmcft. During the North East Monsoon (October to December) period too the reservoir realised 29.809 tmcft more than the prescribed quantity. As against 56.59 tmcft, the reservoir realised 86.399 tmcft. During January-May where inflow is normally low, the reservoir received 23.157 tmcft as against the prescribed quantity of 11.41 tmcft. The reservoir unusually received good inflow during this period except in January and February. According to a Public Works Department official, though the State received more than the prescribed quantity, it was due to release of water by Karnataka as per the directive of the Tribunal. The State was forced to release water into the Cauvery as its reservoirs were full. Though the tribunal order had given its final order in the dispute last year, it is yet to be notified in the gazette by the Centre.