The Hindu : Front Page : Rain brings hope to Dindigul farmers

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Rain brings hope to Dindigul farmers

Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL: Rain in Dindigul and adjoining areas on Monday brought hope to farmers.

Farmers in several rain-fed areas in the district did not start preliminary agriculture operations owing to an inordinate delay in the onset of Southwest monsoon. A further delay would have surely affected long gestation and perennial crops, said worried farmers. Some farmers have started ploughing fields in Vedasandur and Oddanchatram blocks.

Water level remained low in Periyar and Vaigai dams signalling bleak future for farmers in Theni, Dindigul and Madurai districts. Except for Periyar dam catchment area, rainfall was nil in Thekkadi and in Theni district. The dam received 5.6 mm rain. Water level in Periyar dam remained at 109.70 feet. Inflow into the dam was 230 cusecs. Public Works Department officials released 240 cusecs to solve drinking water crisis at several villages and towns.

With no rain in the catchments and poor storage, PWD engineers could not take any decision on release of water for irrigation of the first crop in the double cropping area of 14,707 acres in Cumbum Valley. Some farmers in Uthamapalayam block have raised nurseries expecting early onset of Southwest monsoon.

Water level at Vaigai dam stood at 24.67 feet. After a gap of two months, the dam has started receiving 119 cusecs of water. The discharge was just 41 cusecs.

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