Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031855860100.htm

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Now, Cumbum Valley farmers in a fix

K. Raju

Two-day inflow into Periyar dam is enough to meet our needs: farmers
We have to meet drinking water needs in summer, say PWD officials

THENI: With the Public Works Department suspending water release from Periyar dam on Monday, 17 days behind schedule, farmers have expressed their concern, as they cannot protect the fully grown paddy crops on over 9,000 acres in the Cumbum Valley. They need water, at least for the next 10 days, to get a good yield. Harvesting has commenced in some parts of the valley.

Periyar water is used to irrigate 14,707 acres, mostly paddy crops. Even as the PWD released water on June 1 for irrigation, several farmers did not commence planting in time. Sowing and replanting got delayed in several areas. Delay in transplantation in turn postponed harvesting.

Farmers in Gudalur, entire Uthamapalayam taluk except Moolapathu, parts of Chinnamanur, Koozhayanur, Kuchanur and Veerpandi are badly in need of water.

“The PWD need not release water from the existing storage. Two-day inflow into the dam is enough to meet our needs.” Inflow into the dam is good owing to unexpected rains in the catchments” said, K.M. Abbas, president, Five-District Farmers’ Association.

He has faxed an appeal to the Chief Minister and PWD secretary to release water for the next 15 days, “failing which paddy growers will incur a huge loss.”

The PWD officials said that water had to be stopped by February-end. But we stopped supply only on March 17. “We have to meet drinking water needs in the summer.”