Ryots elated as Amaravathi dam discharge reaches Karur

Over 13,000 acres of farmlands pertained to the Karur district had been depending upon the Amaravathi River and the region is intensified with the paddy cultivation. Also turmeric, onion, sugarcane and banana were cultivated and lots of farmlands exist with the coconut trees in the region for which the farmers adopt well irrigation trusting the ground water.

Due to the water scarcity, the Amaravathi River Basin Authority had released water from the reservoir at Udumalpettai in Tirupur district for the purpose of recharging the ground water level on Thursday.

The waters had been directed to irrigate over 7,400 acre of farmlands through the irrigation canals from three check dams at Pallapalayam, Chinnatharapuram and Nanjakalakurichi.

The farmers, who were elated over receiving the water said, that it would save the standing crop such as paddy, coconut and sugarcane. And the ground water had not been recharged sufficiently.

Marappan of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association said, “The region turned parched without water supply for irrigation in the past few years and agriculture had become a distant dream for the farmers along the Amaravathi River Basin and now the release would recharge the ground water level also.” Sources from the PWD said that the water could be used for saving the standing crops. The officials also said that the water had been directed through irrigation canals for recharging the ground water level of the region.

District Collector T Anbalagan inspected the water flow at Manmangalam check dam.