12 hours ago
1
Release of h2o into the Kalingarayan Canal, scheduled for June 16, is uncertain owing to delays successful the ongoing modernisation works. Officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) said that lone 50% of the works are completed truthful far.
The 91.10-km-long canal that irrigates 15,743 acres successful the territory supports the cultivation of turmeric, banana, sugarcane and different crops for astir 10 months each year. As per the yearly schedule, h2o is released into the canal connected June 16 and the proviso continues till April 30. Maintenance works are taken up during the different months.
The ₹83.33-crore renovation project, sanctioned connected July 24 past year, covers the agelong betwixt mile 12/3/348 and mile 15/4.5/195 and includes operation of extortion walls on some sides of the canal for 4.65 km, enactment of a 4.22-km-long babe canal, reconstruction of 67 sluices, 2 bridges and an aqueduct, operation of 2 underpasses, renewal of an outlet shutter, operation of C-type unit quarters, and proviso of chain-link fencing for 0.70 km.
Water discharge from the Kalingarayan anicut astatine Kalingarayanpalayam into the canal was stopped connected April 7, 2026 and the canal was allowed to adust to facilitate execution of the works. The renovation works commenced connected April 11.
A WRD technologist told The Hindu that lone fractional of the works were completed and it volition not beryllium imaginable to merchandise h2o connected June 16 arsenic primitively planned. The remaining works are expected to beryllium completed by June 28 and a determination connected opening the canal volition beryllium taken aft consultations with farmers.
Farmers person expressed interest implicit the imaginable delay, stating it tin impact cultivation activities and exposure crops to monsoon-related risks. P.K. Sethuraja, president of the Kalingarayan Farmers and Workers Welfare Association, said farmers are preparing for the cultivation of turmeric, paddy, bulb and maize based connected the scheduled opening of the canal and expected the h2o merchandise to instrumentality spot connected time. “We are holding a gathering with members to illustration retired our adjacent people of enactment implicit the hold successful releasing h2o for irrigation,” helium said. The hold has raised uncertainty implicit the commencement of irrigation nether the Kalingarayan Canal strategy for the existent cultivation season.
