Madurai: Water released in the 58th channel scheme of the Vaigai Dam to benefit 2,285 hectares in Madurai and Dindigul.
Commercial Tax Minister P Muhorthy, which released water with Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, said it would benefit 1,912 hectares in the USULampatti block in the Madurai district and 373 hectares in Block Nilakottai in Dindigul.
300 MCFT will be released from the dam at 150 cusecs.
The 27.64 km-long channel will fill 35 tanks through the sub channel.
“The water has been made at the request made by the Pappapatti and Seaittti people when the minister of chairman was there recently,” Minister said and added that the effort was ongoing to turn on the channel to the tip of the tail.
A senior official said that the zero point for Aja for the 58th channel scheme was 67 feet in the Vaigai Dam because of his gradient.
“So water can be released for the scheme only when the water surface is more than 67 feet.
This scheme is mainly to benefit the USULAMPATTI area with a surplus of water from the dam,” the official said.
On Saturday morning, the water surface in the dam stood at 69.29 feet against a full reservoir capacity of 71 feet.
The dam has an inflow of 1,495 cusecs on the exit of 1,269 cusecs.
The water level in the Mullaseriyar Dam rose to 139.35 feet against the maximum storage limit received by 142 feet.
Inflow and outflows are 1,797 cusecs and 556 cusecs.
The water level in both dams was in a very convenient position compared to last year when Vaigai Dam only had 48.62 feet and multasyry dam only had 122.75 feet.
Madurai District collector, Dindigul and Theni are also present when water is released on the channel.
Former Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management R B Udhayakumar (AIADMK) said that water must be released on the channel until all 33 tanks are filled.
Speaking with reporters after welcoming water on the channel with a flower tribute in Usilapatti, Thirumbalaml Mla said that the water used to be released on the channel when the level in the dam had touched 67 feet, during the AIADMK government.
The scheme with the deployment area is only 32 kilometers will benefit 110 villages by recharging the underground water table through 33 tanks to be filled.
Accusing the DMK government delayed the release of water on the channel to pass 69 feet, he claimed that water has now been released on the channel only because of the pressure given by AIAdMK.