Turn system of irrigation will affect samba: Ryots

The water resources organisation of the PWD had announced that the turn system, letting out maximum water into one river while maintaining the minimum flow into other, being implemented for a couple of days. As per the schedule for the first six days water would be let into the Cauvery. For the next six days water would be let into Vennar river.

Similarly the turn system would be implemented in the Grand Anaicut canals alternately into upper reaches and lower reaches. 

However, farmers said the practice would land them in trouble as the water released from Mettur has not so far reached the tail end areas especially, the grade A, B, C and D channels through which at least one lakh acre would be irrigated. While the tail end areas like Peravurani, Sethubavachathiram, Pattukkottai, Tiruvonam (south) are yet to receive the Cauvery water, these areas would get water after the system tanks are filled. 

They claimed that almost all the system tanks are still empty and the cultivation is not possible when the procedure of turn system is followed. The meteorological department’s prediction of 20 per cent less rain in the North East Monsoon has dejected the farmers. 

“The quantum of 99 TMC of water from Karnataka is yet to be received but the state, has introduced the turn system. This will affect samba yield since water will not be available after the flowering stage and this will lead to a huge loss to the farmers,” Vimalnathan said.