Mullaiperiyar dam water released for irrigation in Tamil Nadu

Water has been released from the Mullaiperiyar dam to support first-crop irrigation for approximately 14,707 acres in the Cumbum Valley areas of the Theni district in Tamil Nadu. The release follows delays caused by inadequate summer and southwest monsoon rainfall, which had kept dam storage levels low during the usual June release period.

Recent heavy rainfall in Kerala increased inflows into the dam, raising the water level to approximately 122.30 feet. The discharge includes roughly 200 to 256 cusecs for irrigation purposes and an additional 150 cusecs for drinking water, with a planned release duration of 120 days depending on water availability.

District Collector R. Vaithinathan has urged farmers to adopt water-management practices and cultivate short-duration crops to maximize yields. The Mullaiperiyar dam serves as a vital water source for several districts, including Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram.