ANDIPATTI
Water was released from Vaigai dam on Wednesday to irrigate the first crop in the double-cropping areas in Periyar Main Channel ayacut in Madurai and Dindigul districts.
Talking to media persons after releasing water from the dam, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said 900 cusecs of water would be released continuously for 120 days to raise nurseries and facilitate transplantation work.
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A total of 45,041 acres – 26,792 acres in Madurai north block and 16,452 acres in Vadipatti block in Madurai district, and 1,797 acres in Nilakottai block in Dindigul district – would benefit, he said.
Theni Collector N. Venkatachalam advised farmers to go for only certified seeds for a bumper yield. He also asked them to use water judiciously and co-operate with Public Works Department engineers to ensure optimal distribution of water.
Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao suggested to the farmers that they could raise short-term crops.
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State Ministers Sellur K. Raju (Cooperation), C. Srinivasan (Forests), R.B. Udayakumar (Revenue), MPs Gopalakrishnan and R. Parthiban, MLAs S.T.K. Jakkaiyan, V.V. Rajan Chellappa, Manickam, Needhipathi, V.P.B. Paramasivam and Saravanan were present.