Flow in 58-canal scheme to help over 2k acres

In a statement, Palaniswami said that as Vaigai dam had reached its maximum height of 69 feet and is brimming, excess water of 300 million cubic feet would be released to ‘58 canal scheme’, on an experimental basis, from Wednesday.

Around 2,284 acres of land in Usilampatti division in Madurai district and Nilakottai division in Dindigul district stand to be benefited.

“Based on the request from farmers residing in the northern banks of Vaigai river which includes Usilampatti and Nilakottai divisions, to release water, I have ordered the officials to supply water for the ‘58 canal scheme’,” said Palaniswami.

The ‘58 canal scheme’ was framed in the year 1996 with the aim of providing water to 58 villages in Usilampatti and Nilakottai divisions, which are otherwise dry.

The unique feature of the project is that whenever the water touches 69 feet, the maximum capacity of Vaigai dam, the excess water would be discharged through a canal constructed on top of the dam.

However, as the Vaigai dam did not near its full capacity in all these years, water could not be supplied to the ‘58 canal scheme’.

Only this year did the dam reach its maximum capacity and consequently the government decided to release water to ‘58 canal scheme’ on an experimental basis Water in the ‘58 canal scheme’ is expected to travel for 27 kilometres and recharge 38 water bodies, which will help in the food production of 3,000 tonnes of food grains.

Farmers of the region welcomed the decision to release water in the ‘58 canal scheme’ and hoped that the water supply should be for sufficient time period. Sivaparakasam, Deputy Secretary, Usilai Taluk 58 canal irrigation farmers association, told DTNext, that at last after 20 years water of framing the project water is going to be released in the ‘58 canal scheme’. Usilampatti is general a drier area and is devoid of both rain and water from Vaigai river.

Farmers of the region were eagerly waiting for the release of water from Vaigai for ‘58 canal scheme’ even though it was completed long back, and the released water will enable them to carry out farming for a single season, said Sivaprakasam.