Forests Minister C. Srinivasan released water for irrigation from the Varadamanadhi dam here on Saturday.
Following representations from the farmers in this belt, the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had ordered the PWD engineers to release water.
As a sequel, water would be released from the reservoir for the next 100 days to benefit the farmers in Ayakudi papan channel, Peria channel and Palani channel respectively. The engineers said that they would discharge 20 cusecs from the dam and that it would benefit close to 1,550 acres.
The Collector T.G. Vinay, who was present on the occasion, urged the farmers to judiciously use the water and benefit to the maximum. The fertilizers had been kept ready for sale at all the approved government outlets.
The farmers thanked the government for the water release and hoped to reap a good harvest this season. The weather forecast indicated that there may be more rain by end of November. Bearing this in mind, the farmers have been suggested to draw water in minimum scale and not to flood the fields.
Agriculture department officials said that the farmers had been given ample counselling through ATMA on the use of fertilizer and water at different stages until the harvest.
