The State government has announced a Rs. 55 crore package for the Delta farmers for kuruvai cultivation in addition to 12-hour continuous power supply. The announcement follows as the administration was not in position to open the Mettur on the scheduled date of June 12.

Announcing this, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the dam could not opened as the water level had slipped to 45.82 feet. The dam could be opened only when the water level touched 90 feet, she said.

Even if Karnataka releases 10 tmcft water in June as per the Cauvery Tribunal order, the water level would touch only 61 feet. “Therefore, it is not possible to release water on June 12,” Jayalalithaa said.

The three districts of Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur produce 25 lakh tonnes paddy every year with Kuruvai and Samba cultivation done in about 20 lakh acres. Of the total agriculture land in the Delta region, Kuruvai alone is cultivated in five lakh acres in the three districts and some parts of Salem.

Stating that the ground water level has improved in the Delta districts thanks to the summer rains, the Chief Minister said steps would be taken to take up Kuruvai cultivation in three lakh acres using the ground water. To increase the paddy yield, farmers, who use machinery for cultivation, will be given 100 per cent subsidy.

“The subsidy would be credited directly to the bank account of the farmers,” she added. In addition, HDPE pipes would be provided to the farmers with 100 per cent subsidy to use water judiciously.

Nutrient mixture and seeds would also be provided at 100 per cent subsidy for cultivation in 15,000 acres land.