THANJAVUR: The sluices of the stately Grand Anaicut (Kallanai) were lifted on Sunday morning to release water into Cauvery, Vennaru and Kollidam channels, paving the way for samba cultivation in Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Initially, 7,000 cusecs each was released into Cauvery and Vennaru, 1,000 cusecs into Grand Anaicut and 2,000 cusecs into Kollidam.
Ministers R Doraikannu, R Kamaraj, O S Manian, M Natarajan, S Valarmathi, C Vijayabaskar and Puducherry Agriculture Minister Kamalakkannan along with Rajya Sabha MPs R Vaithilingam, Rathinavel and MLAs released water from the gates. Paddy seeds and flowers were showered over the waters.
The ministers advised farmers to use water judiciously while raising samba paddy. Speaking to media persons, Food Minister R Kamaraj said water would reach tail-end areas in three days and subsequently Puducherry’s share would be released.
Sambandam, a farmer from Punalvasal, who was present at the water release function told Express that paddy cultivation would commence later, and the water being released now would recharge the groundwater.
Samba target
A target of 4.19 lakh hectares has been set for coverage of samba and thalady paddy for the three Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagappttinam.
In Thanjavur, a target of 1.05 lakh hectares in samba season and 30,000 hectares in thalady season has been fixed while the target for Tiruvarur has been fixed as 1.2 lakh hectares for samba and 23,000 hectares for thalady.
In Nagappattinam, a total of 1.31 lakh hectares is the target for samba while 30,000 hectares for thalady paddy.