COIMBATORE: A total of 1083 mcft water was released from Aliyar dam for irrigating nearly 6,400 acres of land under Old Ayacut near Pollachi on Sunday.
The water will be released for 120 days till November 5. As on Sunday, the water level at the dam is 79.5 feet as against the total height of 120 feet. However, the official said that water will be stopped for next couple of days since the canals are not cleaned yet.
Paddy fields, coconut trees and banana plantation which is grown in the surroundings of Anamalai, Sethumadai and Kottur will be benefitted with the water release. Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister SP Velumani and Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaram released water for the benefit of farmers through Periyanai and Karappadi canals on Sunday.
The district collector TN Hariharan, Pollachi Sub Collector Gayathri Krishnan and officials of Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) water resources were present during the release.
Speaking to the reporters, the minister said that water storage in lakes in the city, panchayat, village panchayats are brimming since they were already desilted in advance with the revival of Kudimaramath.
According to sources, the officials said that apart from local agricultural needs, the water was also released from Aliyar to agricultural fields in Chittur Thaluk in Palakkad district from July 1. A total of 150 cusecs is being released to Kerala per day.
As per the agreement, Tamil Nadu has to release 7.25 TMC of water from Aliyar dam annually (water year).