Water released from the Mettur dam has reached the Veeranam tank and tail-end areas of many irrigation channels in the district. But it is yet to be released for agricultural operations in Cuddalore district.
The Veeranam tank has reached its full level of 47.50 feet and farmers are anxious to know about the date of water release for samba cultivation in the district.
While Chennai Metrowater continues to draw water from the tank to meet the drinking water requirements of the city, farmers are keeping their fingers crossed over the date of release of water for irrigation. Farmers attributed the delay to Industries Minister M.C. Sampath’s foreign tour.
“The Public Works Department officials have taken the stand that as per protocol, the local Minister concerned must open the sluice gates for release of water. The officials have informed us that the date of release would be finalised soon after consulting the Minister,” K.V. Elangeeran, president of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, told The Hindu.
Mr. Elangeeran said the hurdle had come to cause agony to farmers who had gone for direct sowing expecting that the water would be available after it was released from the Mettur dam on Saturday.
‘Efforts may go to waste’
Over 70% of farmers in the district had gone for direct sowing and all their efforts would go waste if the water was not available now, he said. “We are asking for only the surplus water that is being discharged from the Upper Anicut into the main irrigation channels. If the water is released now, it will go a long way in filling up small irrigation tanks and recharging the groundwater. However, the authorities seem oblivious to the situation and are releasing the surplus water into the Kollidam river, which is wasted as run-off water into the sea,” said A. Gopalakrishnan, a farmer of Radhampur.
District Collector V. Anbuselvan said that the administration had planned for formal release of water from the Veeranam tank on Wednesday.
The administration had informed the ayacutdars at a meeting that water would be released from Veeranam between September 10 and 15, he said.