As storage level in all three major reservoirs in the district remains comfortable, the district administration will shortly forward proposal to the State Government seeking release of water from the dams for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation on time this year.
Informing this in the farmers’ grievance day meeting held here on Friday, Collector M. Karunakaran said storage level in Papanasam, Servalar and Manimuthar dams was comfortable, thanks to the active north east monsoon last year and recent intermittent precipitation in the catchment areas.
Hence, the district administration would soon send a proposal to the government seeking release of water for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation this year.
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“We can expect the release of water from the dams for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation before June 10 as the major reservoirs have comfortable storage now,” Dr. Karunakaran said.
As the district is experiencing sporadic rainfall since the onset of summer this year and the systemised and non-systemised tanks across the district have decent storage owing to recent rains, ‘kar’ paddy cultivation this year could be a profitable exercise, hoped the farmers, who urged the Collector to initiate steps for repairing the shutters of irrigation channels.
“I’m appealing to the officials concerned repeatedly in almost every grievance day meeting seeking immediate repairing of broken shutters, through which huge quantity of water is being wasted. If we can spend a small amount, we can store huge quantity of water that can irrigate the standing crop on additional areas. Hence, the Collector should take special steps for repairing the inoperative shutters,” said R. Kasamuthu, Tirunelveli district secretary of farmers’ association.
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Dr. Karunakaran immediately ordered the PWD officials to submit a comprehensive proposal on the amount of money required by the department for repairing the inoperative shutters across the district. “I’ll get it sanctioned on time so that the repair work can be completed before the onset of southwest monsoon,” the Collector said, adding that paddy direct procurement centres would be opened at Vadakarai, Kelaiyapillaiyoor and a few more areas in addition to the existing 38 DPCs.
When the agriculturists, citing farmhands’ shortage, wanted to have increased subsidy for procuring farm implements, Dr. Karunakaran said the district administration could only ensure adequate availability of farm equipment to be hired and not do anything regarding the increase in subsidy for purchasing equipment.
The farmers expressed concern over the sudden repeal of agriculture jewel loan being extended by the nationalised banks at 7 per cent interest.
A group of sugarcane growers from Maanur submitted petition to Dr. Karunakaran seeking early disbursal of money for the sugarcane they had supplied to a private sugar mill in the district.