Desilt Palayam Channel: farmers

TIRUNELVELI

TIRUNELVELI

Farming operations in the ranches in the tail-end regions of the Palayam Channel of the Tamirabharani irrigation system are gradually getting wiped out as the channel was not desilited properly for the past several years, agriculturists said during the farmers’ monthly grievance meet held here on Friday.

 Raising the issue in the meeting, farmer Natarajan, who highlighted the pathetic condition of Palayam Channel, said the channel, which was saving farming operations in the urban area of Palayamkottai all these years, had been in neglected state for the past several years. Even after several tonnes of debris had been dumped by the individuals to further smother the already chocked channel, no step had been taken by the Public Works Department to completely desilt the channel.

 Consequently, farming operations in the tail-end areas like Kottur, Vellakovil, Raja Kudiyiruppu and the adjoining areas were being gradually wiped-out even though water was being released from Papanasam Dam for ‘kar’ paddy cultivation. Seizing this opportunity, the realtors were targeting these uncultivated lands for converting them into housing plots, Mr. Natarajan said.

Collector V. Vishnu, who was chairing the meeting, assured that immediate steps would be taken to desilt the Palayam Channel completely so as to take the water up to tail-end areas.

He said that joint inspection teams with officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Forest and Revenue would be formed to inspect the lands where crops were damaged by the invading wild animals and due compensation to the affected farmers would be given soon.

 When the farmers urged the Collector to construct bathing ghats at the safer points of Tamirabharani watercourse to avert drowning, Mr. Vishnu said due action would be taken in this connection. “Moreover, we’ll also inspect the areas where we can construct new check-dams across the Tamirabharani,” he said.