Water released for paddy cultivation in Tamil Nadu's delta districts

31-Jul-2024 05:38 PM

Thanjavur. After the Grand Anaicut (Kallanai) dam started operating in Tamil Nadu, water has started flowing in the Kaveri, Venaru, Grand Anaicut Kollidam rivers.

The release of water is expected to facilitate irrigation of Kuruvai paddy crop there. It is known that farmers have already planted Kuruvai paddy using groundwater. This water was also used to fill 925 system tanks spread across 11 districts of the Delta division.

Every year, there is a tradition of organizing a program on the occasion of opening of this dam. This time too, many ministers of Tamil Nadu, MLAs, District Collectors of delta districts and other dignitaries were present on the occasion of the opening ceremony.

Water was released into the Kaveri river by opening the sluice gate. After this, the sluice gates of Bennarru River, Grand Anaicut Canal and Kollidam River were also operated.

During the initial phase, 1500 cusecs of water was released in the Cauvery River, 1000 cusecs in Bennarru, 500 cusecs in Grand Anaicut and 400 cusecs in Kollidam River. A Tamil Nadu minister said that it will take about a week for this water to reach the last point.

This will make Samba paddy cultivation possible in about 7.95 lakh acres and at the same time, it can also be used for crop irrigation in areas where Kuruvai paddy has already been planted.

It is worth mentioning that the discharge of Cauvery water from Mettur usually starts on June 12, but this time water was released on July 28 due to less water available in Mettur Dam.

In fact, due to heavy rainfall in the catchment area of ​​Cauvery river in Kerala and Karnataka, the water in Mettur dam increased much more than required, so it became necessary to send it further.