With the storage level at Mettur Dam reaching comfortable levels, Tamil Nadu government today announced releasing water for the kuruvai (short-term) crops covering 12 lakh acres in the Cauvery delta region.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that water could not be released on the usual date of June 12 this year as the storage level was 74.21 feet, way below the mandatory 90 feet and recalled her government's steps to address the situation by way of a Rs 40 crore package to boost agriculture.
"Following some measure of rainfall in Cauvery catchment area during the southwest monsoon period in July, the water level had increased to 95.91 feet as of today," she said in a statement here.
Jayalalithaa said that water from Mettur Dam, the lifeline of Cauvery delta districts in the state, will be released from August 9 considering various factors like anticipated 'normal' southwest monsoon rainfall next month, the state getting its due share of water from river Cauvery as per the sharing formula, the current storage level and a possible 'normal' southeast monsoon.
"I request the farmers to judiciously use the water and ensure additional agricultural yield," she said.
The water release will cover 12 lakh acres of kuruvai and thaladi (second crop of paddy), she added.
