Delta farmers in the Delta district, who are happy with the early opening of water for Guru cultivation at the Mettur dam, have demanded the government to expedite the dredging work.
Naga District is a shopping area in the Cauvery Delta District. Cultivation is being done in the district depending on the Cauvery water. It is customary to open the water on June 12 every year for the cultivation of curry. But today the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu opened the Mettur Dam for the cultivation of Kuruai after the Mettur Dam was filled earlier this year. Thus, the farmers are starting the process of machine plowing to cultivate this year’s crop.
In Nagai district 329.90 km of river has been allotted for dredging work at an estimated cost of 3.29 crore and dredging work is being carried out. District Collector Arun Thamburaj has ordered the public works authorities to expedite the inspection and dredging work of the Valivalam Mohanur Chattiyakudi canals in the Lower Vellore circle due to the pre-opened water. The collector also said that 80 percent of the work in Naga district is being completed.
Meanwhile, representatives of the farmers’ associations said that the cultivation of curry in the delta districts, which was 4 lakh acres last year, would be doubled to 8 lakh acres due to the early opening of water this year. The farmers also demanded that the Tamil Nadu government should provide a guarantee that the paddy will be procured through the government direct paddy procurement center.