The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Water released in 18th channel

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Water released in 18th channel

Staff Reporter

A total of 4,614.25 acres of land in Uthamapalayam and Bodi taluks to benefit

Awaited turn:Collector P. Muthuveeran (second from left), releasing water in 18th channel in Uthamapalayam taluk in Theni district on Friday.

THENI: For the first time, water has been released into 18th channel in Uthamapalayam block for irrigation of cultivable lands in Bodi and Uthamapalayam blocks in the district here on Friday. (The Public Works Department Engineers had conducted successful trials in 2008 and 2009.)

Talking to press persons after releasing water into the channel, Collector P. Muthuveeran said that 100 cusecs of water had been released.

The discharge would continue for 30 days.

A total of 4,614.25 acres of land – 2,568.90 in Uthamapalayam and 2,045.35 acres in Bodi taluks – would be benefited.

Farmers would get water only through indirect irrigation.

Stored in 44 tanks

Water released through the channel would be stored in 44 tanks and later used for raising various crops.

Even as the total capacity of the channel was 279 cusecs, the engineers started releasing only 100 cusecs in order to avoid breach in the channel and disruption in water supply.

(The government had issued order to release 270 cusecs of water continuously for nine days.)

Farmers in Pannaipuram, Kombai, K. Pudhupatti, Anumandhanpatti, T. Sindhalaiserry, Sankarapuram, Vembakottai, Thevaram, Lakshmi Naickenpatti, Dombuserry, Pottipuram, Meenakshipuram and Kodangipatti would benefit from this.

A total of 44 tanks – 15 tanks at three villages in Bodi taluk and 29 tanks at 10 villages in Uthamapalayam taluk – in 13 villages would be benefited.

The 40.8-km long 18th channel was dug at a cost of Rs.33.35 crore in 2009.

Trial run was conducted on November 24, 2008 in the presence of the then PWD Minister, Durai Murugan. The project was conceived in 1999.

Periyar Vaigai River Basin Executive Engineer P. Vijaykumar, Manjalar Division Executive Engineer A. James Lourdusamy, PWD Sub Divisional Officer P. Kannan and MLAs N. Ramakrishnan and S. Lakshmanan took part.

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