Mettur dam to be opened on June 12

Chennai, May 28 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government today announced that the sluice gates of the Mettur Reservoir would be opened on the customary date of June 12 for Kuruvai cultivation in the delta districts.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today ordered opening of the dam as the water level crossed more than 100 ft, an official release here said.

The Chief Minister directed the authorities to make available farm loans, seeds and fertilisers to the farmers, without any hindrance to help them take up the cultivation.

He said every year the Mettur Dam would be opened only after repeated demands and pleas by the farmers. ''But this year, even before there was any such demand, the government ordered opening of the dam.'' Official sources said the storage was sufficient to meet the irrigation needs of farmers for the next 45 days.

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