Kanyakumari: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa directing release of water for irrigation from Chittar-1 and Chittar-2 in Kanyakumari district has cheered up farmers here, who now hope for a for a better crop during the ‘kar’ season this year.
The recent summer showers that lashed Kanyakumari district have ensured comfortable water level in the all the six dams—Chittar dam-1, Chittar dam-II, Perunchani dam, Pechiparai dam, Puthen dam and Pandiyan dam in Kanyakumari district. While this has already enabled ‘kar’ season paddy cultivation to begin in the district 10 days back, farmers had sought additional water for irrigation in the initial stages of cultivation in June first week.
Heeding the demand of the Kanyakumari district farmers, the Chief Minister on Monday ordered the release of water from Pechipparai, Perunchani, Chittar dam-I and Chittar dam-II for the ‘kar’ season cultivation from June 2. Jubilant over the announcement, farmers here said that though it was usual to release water during the first week of June for paddy cultivation in the ‘Kar’ season, lack of adequate storage in the dams in the past had not enabled water release for irrigation in time.”
