Clamour for release of water in irrigation canals gets shriller

With the scorching summer rendering water bodies dry and triggering a rapid depletion of ground water table, farmers organisations have urged the government to order the release of water in the 17 irrigation canals from River Cauvery to overcome the water shortage in villages dependent on them.They say the government should step up release from the Mettur Reservoir to address the drinking water shortage faced by people and cattle in villages and the irrigation requirements of cash crops such as banana and sugarcane. Currently, about 1,500 cusecs of water is being released from the Mettur Dam to meet drinking water requirements. But farmers say that this was not adequate.

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