Madikeri: The Harangi dam authorities have started releasing water for irrigation purposes in Kodagu. Water has been released into both the left and right bank canals. Farmers have already completed 90% of the paddy cultivation across 6,900 acres of catchment area extending up to Shirangala, the area bordering Kodagu. This year, a steady flow of 500 cusecs of water is being released from the dam to the canals. In addition, under the lift irrigation project implemented in the left bank canal, farmers of Chikka Aluvara and Dodda Aluvara villages started paddy cultivation covering an area of 1,500 acres, according to irrigation department executive Engineer IK Puttaswamy.

