The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : After 20 years, dams opened for irrigation on time

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Saturday, Jun 03, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

After 20 years, dams opened for irrigation on time

Madurai Bureau

Collector asks farmers to raise short-term crop

MADURAI: After a gap of 20 years, this year the Periyar and Vaigai dams had sufficient storage to release water for irrigating the double crop area of 45,000 acres in Madurai and Dindigul districts, on schedule.

It was in 1986 that water was released from the Vaigai dam on June 1 for the first crop of double crop area between Peranai and Kallandiri. Poor storage or delayed onset of southwest monsoon postponed the release in the subsequent years, Public Works Department officials said.

The Madurai Collector, T. Udhayachandran, has asked farmers to raise short-term crop and judiciously use water. In the event of monsoon failure, a turn system of irrigation would be introduced.

Theni

Water was released from the Periyar dam on Thursday for irrigating the first crop of twin crop area in the Cumbum valley stretching up to Veerapandi, anticipating favourable monsoon and good flow into the dam.

Releasing the water from the dam at 1.15 p.m., Theni Collector Rajesh Lakhoni said 200 cusecs of water would be released through the Periyar main canal for 120 days continuously.

About 14,707 acres of agriculture land including 11,807 acres in Uthamapalayam, 2,412 acres in Theni and 488 acres in Bodinayakkanur would be irrigated.

The water level stood at 124.3 feet in the dam with an inflow of 2,292 cusecs. Discharge was 200 cusecs. Storage was 3,499 mcft.

Earlier, special poojas were performed.

Agriculturists have commenced preliminary work in many areas in the valley, thanks to mild showers and onset of monsoon in Kerala.

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