Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay today announced a special package worth ₹134 crore for the Kuruvai season.

In a statement, he said this would help farmers who are suffering due to the delay in the southwest monsoon and the fact that the Mettur Dam was not opened on the customary date of June 12.

The government said that paddy is cultivated in 52.72 lakh acres across the state in the Cauvery delta region, comprising Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts, and certain parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchi, and Ariyalur districts.

At present, the water level in the Mettur Dam stands at only 79.56 feet, and there is no possibility of opening the dam today. There is little possibility of cultivating paddy on the usual 5 lakh acres in the delta districts.

However, since cultivation can still be carried out on up to 3.55 lakh acres through filter points in these areas, farmers in other districts are also facing irregular rainfall conditions.