Clearing of wild bushes along Periyar Main Canal under way

Public Works Department officials clearing wild growth along Periyar Main Canal ahead of releasing water for irrigation for doublecrop area, in Alanganallur on Tuesday. Photo: R. Ashok

Ahead of release of water, Public Works Department officials have started jungle clearance in and along Periyar Main Canal (PMC) to ensure smooth flow of water.

Meanwhile, farmers in Alanganallur area have started preparing land for raising nurseries anticipating release of water at the earliest.

Periyar-Vaigai Basin Circle Executive Engineer M. Muthupandi inspected the removal of wild growth in the PMC and along the canal road in Alanganallur on Tuesday.

The work has been taken up for 30 kilometre along the canal between Anaipatti in Dindigul district to Alanganallur near here.

The wild growth inside the canal and along it could hinder free flow of water. “These bushes, when get stuck in the vents of small bridges across the canal, would prevent free flow of water,” a PWD engineer said.

When A.S. Rasu, an elderly farmer, asked Mr. Muthupandi about the water release, he said the proposal to release water from Vaigai dam for irrigating the double-crop area had been sent to the government.

“It is likely very soon,” he added.

Mr. Rasu said many farmers had started land preparation in Alanganallur expecting early release of water. “Those who have lift irrigation facility have started the work. Sowing of seeds to raise nursery will begin in those farms by September 1,” he said.

He said being early birds in farming exercise had many advantages to the farmers. “We can overcome the labour problem for transplantation and weeding since very few farms could do those works in the early days after water release. Similarly, we can get better price for our produce because of the arrival of limited quantity of paddy to the market in the initial stage,” he said.

These farmers are also assured of irrigation during the fag end of raising the paddy crops before harvesting.