Sathanur dam opened for second crop, residents on banks move to safer areas

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami earlier ordered the release of water for 40 days starting from January 23 following representations and request from locals. Farmers also submitted several petitions to the district administration seeking the release of water as the standing crops were withering.

Currently, the water feeds around 10,000 acres of the total 50,000 acres of cultivatable land. In the 10,000 acres, the lands are irrigated using the water from left andright bank canals located in Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts. Through the left bank canal, 150 cft (cubic feet per second) water is released while on the right canal 200 cft is released.

However, farmers of tail-end farmers claim that the released water may not reach them since it should meet the demands of the 2,500 acres of irrigated land in Tirukoilur, before reaching them.

Already 900 cft water was released on February 1 and the water flow was stablised to 600 cft from February 2. With this additional discharge on Sunday, the farmershope that the increased flow would help the unserved areas to meet the needs during the second crop.

When contacted officials said that they have planned to release a total of 600 mcft (million cubic feet) of water in three instalments till February 10. This release would ensure that the dam has enough dead storage to meet locals needs, he added.

Following the discharge of additional water, the district administration has warned the locals on the banks of the south ponnar to not enter or use the river for bathing and washing clothes. A warning on the same has also been issued for the people in the low lying areas to move to higher ground.

Prior to the release on January 23, the storage of the dam stood at 96.20 feet against the FTL (Full Tank Level) of 119 feet with a water spread of 3,222 mcft. Presently, the release of water has dwindled the water level to 92.40 feet and water spread areas of2733 mcft.