Water for single crop areas from October 1

Drought-hit farmers count on dam water and monsoon to revive fortunes

MADURAI, TAMILNADU, 19/09/2014. : Farmers submit petitions to Collector L. Subramanian at Grievances meeting in Madurai Collectorate, on Friday.-Photo:S_James

Water must be released at the earliest to the single crop areas in the district, said farmers at the monthly grievance day meeting here on Friday.

Stating that water should have been released on September 15 itself, the farmers said the storage level in the Periyar credit was above 6,000 mcft which could adequately irrigate 85,000 acres. “We have already incurred heavy losses due to drought-like conditions. Now, only if the water is released soon we can prepare the fields before northeast monsoon sets in,” said K. Kathiresan from Melur.

Farmers from Melur said many acres of mango and coconut trees had wilted owing to lack of rain and the situation would ease only if water was released soon.

Collector L. Subramanian said water would be released for the single crop areas from October 1 and asked them to prepare their fields. Reacting to queries about why water could not be released earlier, Mr. Subramanian said sufficient storage had to be ensured to release water continuously over a period of time.

Clear tanks, channels

The farmers requested the Collector to expedite works on clearing ‘seemai karuvelam’ trees, de-silt tanks and clear the channels before the onset of monsoon. A farmer alleged that there was a delay in assessing the extent of ‘karuvelam’ tree growth in the tanks by the Forest Department and said the trees must be felled soon.

Questioning officials from the Forest Department about the delay, Mr. Subramanian asked them to assess and prepare an estimate for the same and hand it over to the Public Works Department.