THEKKADI
Sixteen days behind normal schedule, water was released from Periyar dam for irrigation of the first crop in the double-cropping areas of Cumbum valley in Theni district on Sunday.
Talking to reporters after releasing water from the dam, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said 300 cusecs of water – 200 cusecs for irrigation and 100 cusecs for meeting drinking water needs of Madurai and Theni districts – would be released from the dam for the next 120 days.
A total of 14,707 acres – 11,807 acres in Uthamapalayam, 2,412 acres in Theni and 488 acres in Bodi blocks – would benefit from the release. Mr. Panneerselvam appealed to farmers to use water judiciously and raise short-term crops for better yield. If rainfall continued, water would be stored in the dam up to 142 feet.
To a question on the discharge of 300 cusecs of water, he said it was only to irrigate the first crop and meet the drinking water needs and certainly not to keep the water level below 142 feet in the dam.
On the delay in providing electricity connection to the dam site, he said the issue was pending in court.
Mr. Panneerselvam said sufficient stocks of fertilizers and seeds had been kept for distribution to farmers. A total of 1,543 tonnes of urea, 1,498 tonnes of DAP, 983 tonnes of potash and 1,942 tonnes of compost had been stocked in primary agricultural cooperative societies and private fertilizer sales outlets.
Besides, 134 tonnes of NLR 34449, 43 tonnes of TKM 13 and seven tonnes of CO 51 paddy seeds had been stocked in all agricultural extension centres, he said.
Collector M. Pallavi Baldev said seeds would be distributed at 50% subsidy to farmers under Seed Village Scheme. A sum of ₹30 lakh was sanctioned to promote mechanisation of farm activities. A subsidy of ₹5,000 per hectare would be given to farmers for mechanising paddy planting, she added.
Public Works department officials said turn system would be introduced if the storage level in the dam did not improve or the monsoon failed. Normally, water would be released from the dam on June 1.