Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment P. Senthurpandian discharged water from the Papanasam dam on Friday for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation.
Following appeals from farmers for release of water from the dam, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa ordered the discharge of water on Thursday. Subsequently, Mr. Senthurpandian, accompanied by Collector M. Karunakaran, released water from the reservoir around 2 p.m. on Friday after a brief puja.
The water released will nourish 18,090 acres of land in Ambasamudram and Tirunelveli taluks.
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“The water release will be sustained for 120 days. As there is no rain in the catchment areas, agriculturists should use the water judiciously for farming operations,” the Collector said.
MPs Vijila Sathyananth, S. Muthukaruppan and Vasanthi Murugesan and Mayor (in-charge) P. Jeganathan alias Ganesan were present.