Farmers’ representatives of Tiruchi district have urged the State government to ensure release of adequate water from the Mettur reservoir to meet the requirements of the standing crops fed by the 17 irrigation channels in Tiruchi and other neighbouring districts.
Farmers said that banana, betel vine and sugarcane crops are raised in several acres in Tiruchi, Karur and neighbouring districts and farmers are dependent on water for irrigation from the 17 channels. The flow in the channels requires adequate quantum of discharge from the Mettur dam.
Over the past few days, about 1,200 to 1,400 cusecs of water was discharged from the Mettur dam to meet the needs of farmers and drinking water.
Public Works Department sources said the discharge was increased to 1,750 cusecs on Tuesday.
“The current quantum of discharge is not adequate as not even 200 cusecs of water is being realised at the Mayanur bed regulator. The crops need a wetting and the government should step up the release to 2,000 cusecs so that a substantial quantum of water is realised at Mayanur for a week or 10 days,” said Mahadhanapuram V.Rajaram, president, Cauvery Irrigation Farmers’ Welfare Association.
