Mettur (Salem): Chief minister M K Stalin opened the sluice gates of the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur on Saturday, releasing 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) water to irrigate the ‘kuruvai’ crops in the delta districts of Trichy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Pudukottai, Mayiladuthurai and Cuddalore.The quantity of water being released was increased to 10,000cusecs in the evening and is likely to be maintained at the same level for the next couple of days.Stalin said close to 5.21 lakh acres of fertile land would benefit from the water release.
He said it was for the 18th time that the water was being released from the dam on the traditional date of June 12.
The dam had 60.784 thousand million cubic feet water on the day, while the water level stood at 96.8ft.“Farmers in the delta districts will get the Cauvery water for their irrigation needs on the right time when the water is released exactly on June 12.
The state has sufficient stock of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds for ‘kuruvai’ cultivation,” he said.Stalin said desilting works were carried out across the delta districts to ensure uninterrupted water flow to the tail-end areas.
“We had spent Rs65.10 crore to desilt the water pathways for nearly 4,061km in the delta districts.
The works were carried out in consultation with various farmers’ associations.
I had appointed nine special officers to monitor the works.”Recalling the seven important resolutions that the DMK had taken during the election campaign in Trichy, Stalin said the government was committed to reforming the agriculture sector and improving the water resources management in the state.He said the government would work to ensure a bumper harvest to make farmers happy and their motto was “Magasool Perukkam, Magilum Vivasayi”.
“All the farmers in the state will get sufficient water for irrigation purposes.
The government has started groundworks to fulfil the election promises.
Presently, farming activities are carried out only on 60% of the fertile land.
The area under cultivation will be increased to 75% in the next 10 years.”The chief minister said the DMK government was also committed to provide quality higher education, world-class medical facilities and treatment, smart cities, best-in-class infrastructure to the people of Tamil Nadu.Answering a question on water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said he had written a letter to the water resources minister in Karnataka on Friday.Talking about the AIADMK government’s pilot project kudimaramathu, Stalin said they had started collecting information on the project and a detailed report would be given to the media at the earliest.Referring to the government’s fight against Covid-19, he said their efforts have helped contain the virus spread in a speedy manner.
When asked about the decision to reopen Tasmac shops, Stalin said he had ordered the same only in the districts where the cases have plateaued.
Stalin said he had approached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to meet prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 17.
“They have also given the date tentatively and the PMO hasn’t finalised my appointment yet.”Meanwhile, water resources development S Durai Murugan told the media that a decision on Cauvery-Kodavari river linking scheme would be taken in consultation with the chief minister after studying the same.