With the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur receiving a sustained inflow of over 30,000 cusecs in the last few days, farmers in the delta districts have pinned their hopes on release of water for kuruvai and samba crops.
Recalling last season’s experience when a large quantum of water drained into the sea in August 2014, farmers at the farmers grievances’ day meeting here on Friday highlighted the need for taking immediate action to clear the thick vegetation and other Neyveli Kattamanakku on the channels to ensure free flow of water into the fields.
District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan directed the Public Works Department officials to prepare an action plan for clearing the thick vegetation all along the channels in Kudamurutti and other channels. The Collector said the work should be executed on a war-footing so that water was optimally utilised for irrigating the fields. She directed the officials to execute the work on Saturday and Sunday as the major channels in the district would get water from Mettur shortly. Ms. Jayashree directed the PWD officials to prepare an action plan immediately. She said as the Stanley Reservoir had been registering a steady increase, the available time should be utilised for preparing the supply channels.
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Earlier, initiating a discussion, N. Veerasekaran, coordinator of the South and North Ayyan Ayacutdar Association, said a huge volume of water was released from Karnataka following sharp showers in that State.
A. Nagarajan, a progressive horticulturist of Puliyur, said the State government should take immediate action for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and Vigilance Committee. The State government should ensure proper discharge of the waters to Tamil Nadu. He wanted barrages to be built across the Cauvery for optimum utilisation of the waters.