Urgent Plea: PMK Demands Immediate Release of Water from Mettur Dam to Save Farmers’ Livelihoods
PMK Urges Tamil Nadu Government to Release Water from Mettur Dam
Chennai, July 28: The PMK has pressed the Tamil Nadu government to act promptly in releasing water from the Mettur dam to assist farmers in preparing for the Samba paddy season. PMK state president and former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss emphasized in a Sunday statement that immediate water release is crucial to prevent potential flooding in the Delta districts.
The Mettur dam’s water level rose to 103.7 feet on Saturday, just 17 feet below its full capacity of 120 feet, holding nearly 70 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water. Anticipating further increase, Tamil Nadu water works department indicated that the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar dams in Karnataka are discharging their overflow into the Cauvery river, which would subsequently raise the Mettur dam’s levels.
Late Saturday, the Central Water Commission issued an advisory for precautionary measures to be taken by Mettur dam officials and downstream regions. This caution follows the expected significant inflow from Krishnaraja Sagar and Kabini dams, combining at 1,45,000 cusecs. At that time, Mettur dam’s recorded inflow stood at 1.23 lakh cusecs, with an outflow of 1,000 cusecs.
The Mettur dam is essential for irrigation and drinking water in Tamil Nadu’s delta districts. The recent surge in water brings much-needed relief to farmers and residents reliant on the dam. In response to these developments, Tiruchy district Collector M. Pradeep Kumar issued a flood alert for residents near the Cauvery and Kollidam Rivers on Saturday night.
The PMK’s call for urgent water release from the Mettur dam underscores the delicate balance needed to manage flood risks while securing farmers’ irrigation needs during the Samba paddy season.
–IANS
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/07/28/pmk-demands-immediate-release-of-water-from-mettur-dam-to-facilitate-cultivation/
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