A status report on the pollution level in the Kalingarayan canal would be readied by this year-end by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and Norway-based BioForsk that are operating a collaborative project here to implement strategies for adapting the pattern of paddy cultivation to climate change to mitigate impact.
The team implementing the collaborative project funded by the Royan Norway Embassy covering 2,000 acres irrigated by the Kalingarayan Canal took stock of the extent of pollution in the Sunambu Odai here on Wednesday and had a discussion on the possibility for treating polluted water diverted to the newly created baby canal biologically and mechanically before it is let into the Cauvery.
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The quantum of pollution at the Sunnambu Odai where dyeing industries divert effluents was found to be very high by the team consisting of Nagothu Udaya Sekhar, Johanson, Adam and Anne representing Bioforsk, and V. Geethalakshmi and A. Lakshmanan of TNAU.
Water availability and soil nutrition were factored in before advocating the ‘System of Rice Intensification’ for the farmers along the Kalingarayan canal, to save agricultural water. SRI not only consumes less water, but also increases yield, Dr. Geethalakshmi said, adding that for nutrient management, soil samples from the field were tested and suitable recommendations were made so as to ensure that there is no underuse or overuse of fertilisers.
Deputy Mayor K.C. Palanichamy; Executive Engineer of PWD, Erode, Periasamy Pragalathan, and other senior officials accompanied the team.
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