Minister for Animal Husbandry Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan on Sunday opened the shutters of Thirumoorthy dam to release water for irrigating 94,362 acres under various agriculture and horticulture crops falling in the command area spread over Tirupur and Coimbatore districts.
Public Works Department (Water Resources Organisation) officials said the water was released following frequent requests from the agrarian community to save the standing crops in the wake of weak monsoon.
It was planned to discharge 1,500 mcft (million cubic feet) of water over 21 days.
Official sources pointed out that the water release would benefit 13,428 acres in Udumalpet taluk, 6,763 acres in Madathukulam taluk, 18,963 acres in Dharapuram taluk, 17,465 acres in Palladam taluk, 7,266 acres in Tirupur taluk, 7,676 acres in Kangayam taluk, 19,781 acres in Pollachi taluk and 3,020 acres in Sulur taluk.
The inflow into the reservoir area of the dam stood at 967 cusecs at 8 a.m. when the shutters were opened. The water level at that time was 57.3 feet against the total of 60 feet.
