Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said water from Mettur dam cannot be released on June 12 for Kuruvai paddy cultivation and listed her government’s measures at an estimated cost of Rs 54.65 crore to take up the integrated kuruvai cultivation scheme in three lakh acres.
The government measures included 12 hours of three-phase power for farmers, subsidy for using machines, manure, seeds and HDPE pipes for irrigation.
In a statement here, she said water from Mettur dam could be released only if the storage level is 90 feet out of the total storage level of 120 feet. The storage level in the dam is only 45.82 feet now which amounts to 15.281 tmcft. The inflow now is 102 cubic feet.
As per the order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, Karnataka government should release 10 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu during the month of June. Even if the stipulated quantity of water was released from Karnataka, the storage level would move up only to 61 feet and water could not be released on June 12 for kuruvai cultivation with a such a storage position.
The Chief Minister said the six delta districts had received good rainfall this summer, leading to rise in groundwater level. Using this, the government would take measures to encourage cultivation.
The state government would give three-phase power to farmers for 12 hours to use pump sets, besides subsidy for using machines for planting the seedlings, she said and added that '40 crore would be allocated for the subsidy.
The Chief Minister said the government would give 100 per cent subsidy for HDPE pipes for economic use of water for irrigation. Besides, subsidy would be given for 50,000 acres of land to add micro-nutrients and zinc sulphate.
The government will also give Rs 1,500 per acre for farmers in the Kallanai canal area for cultivating short term pulses. Besides, 100 per cent subsidy will be given for seeds to the tail end area of Vennar, she said.
