Farmers Associations in Theni and Water Resources Department officials on Thursday conducted interfaith prayer at Mullaperiyar dam for rain. The farmers were affected by the lack of rainfall in the region.

According to the farmers, the release of water from the dam for the first crop season was delayed due to lack of rainfall. There was also a drinking water shortage in the region, they said.

Water was usually released on June 1 for the first paddy crop season. Although there was rain in Kerala, Mullaperiyar dam catchment areas did not receive much rainfall and water was yet to be released for the first crop season as the water level in the dam did not rise as expected, they said.

They said in the past 20 days, the water level rose by less than three feet, reaching only 113.55 feet. Despite the onset of the monsoon, insufficient rainfall in the catchment areas has kept both the water level and the inflow below the threshold required for the release of water.

Interfaith prayer was held at Mullaperiyar dam near the head sluice where water is released to Tamil Nadu. The prayers were conducted as per Hindu, Muslim and Christian traditions, they said.