Flow from Kallanai raises hopes of record harvest, says Food Minister

Thiruchirapalli

The slow flow of water delayed the opening by an hour and equal share of 500 cusecs each into Cauvery, Vennaru, Kallanai canal and Kollidam were released. Subsequently, Ministers R Doraikannu, OS Manian, R Kamaraj and Kamalakannan (Puducherry) and district collectors of Pudukkottai, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur and several progressive farmers paid floral tribute to mother Cauvery and released the water for irrigation.

Ahead of the release, special poojas were performed to deities on Kallanai and the statue of Karikala Chola who built the dam and Sir Arthur Cotton who remodeled it were garlanded.

Once the water reaches the tail end, the share of water would be released for irrigation in Karaikal (Puducherry), the officials said.

Speaking to reporters after function, Food Minister Kamaraj said, the water has been released on time after eight years and the entire state has been celebrating the event. He asked the farmers to use water economically and get the highest yield. “Last year, the Delta farmers got 20 per cent more yield and so the DPCs in the state had procured 24 lakh MT paddy. In the same vein, the farmers would achieve a record harvest,” claimed Kamaraj.

Meanwhile, he said that more than 90 per cent of the desilt and kudimaramathu works have been completed which would ensure free flow of water to all the waterbodies in the region. “Today, 10,000 cusec of water has been released and it would be stepped up based on the requirement,” the Minister added.