Water credit turns positive but kuruvai's fate still uncertain

Madurai: After touching its lowest credit level in recent times, water level in Mullaperiyar is slowing gaining but the fate of kuruvai crop in 9,000 hectares in the district still remains uncertain as the level is still very less compared to the figures last year. As per norm, Madurai district could claim water from Mullaperiyar dam for cultivating kuruvai paddy once water level touches 4,000 mcft in the reservoir.But, alarmingly, the water credit went so low to minus 292 mcft on May 9, 2016 as inflow to the dam reduced considerably.
On Wednesday, the credit improved to 457 mcft but it is just 1/10th of the required credit to claim water, according to officials.
As per water management norms, everyday 60 cusecs will be released from Vaigai dam for the drinking water needs of Madurai city. One sixth of the dam storage level is allotted to city's drinking water and the remaining requirement is met from Mullaperiyar water.
But after storage depleted in the beginning of May, the water credit had to be adjusted from Vaigai credit that belongs to Sivaganga and Ramanathpuram districts. Till the water level improved in the second week of May, water credit turned negative to 292 mcft. After the monsoon begn in June, the inflow started to Mullaperiyar dam but water credit due to Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts had to be adjusted to get credit into positive figures. Only in the first week of July, the inflow increased above 1,000 cusecs to Mullaperiyar and water credit is gaining positively and recorded as 457 mcft on Wednesday, agriculture officials said.
After three years of failed and poor kuruvai crop from 2012 to 2014, farmers could manage reasonable crop in 2015. But, this year, officials are pinning their hopes on monsoon rains during July. "IMD is predicting good showers during July. We pray that it rains well in catchment areas of Mullaperiyar so that water credit reaches 4,000 mcft soon and we will get water for kuruvai," said joint director of agriculture, Madurai, S Kanagaraj.
Meanwhile, farmers in Theni district are eagerly awaiting the release of water from Mullaperiyar as the level is slowly inching towards 115 feet. The water used to be released to Cumbum valley consisting 5,600 hectares of paddy fields starting from Gudalur to Theni once water level touches 115 feet mark.
"Our farmers are ready with nurseries and agricultural inputs to commence kuruvai crop. We hope rainfall in catchment areas will be consistent in coming days for water to be released," said joint director of agriculture (in-charge), Theni district, P Shankaran.