Farmers seek release of water in Vadakaal, Thenkaal of Srivaikundam to save standing plantain crop

Farmers in Thoothukudi stage demo to save plantain crop; villagers seek closure of quarry, free house sites, school upgrade.

Seeking release of water in Vadkaal and Thenkaal irrigation channels of Srivaikundam to save the standing plantain crop, a group of farmers staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate and submitted a petition to Collector K. Senthil Raj in Thoothukudi on Monday.

 The demonstration of the farmers affiliated to the Confederation of Srivaikundam Vadakaal and Thenkaal Irrigation Associations was led by P. Bhuviraj, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasaayigal Sangam.

They said a senior official of PWD’s Tamirabharani Basin recently announced that water would be released in the Tamirabharani only for drinking purpose and there was no possibility of discharging water for irrigation considering the precarious storage level in Papanasam and Manimuthar Dams.

 “However, an Executive Engineer and the Assistant Executive Engineer of PWD, who misused their powers, have released water for irrigation to a particular area from Marudhur check dam. Hence, they should be placed under suspension and disciplinary action taken against them following a thorough inquiry by senior officials of the PWD,” the protesters said.

 Further, water in Srivaikundam check dam should be stored up to seven feet and released up to tail-end areas of Vadakaal and Thenkaal irrigation channels to save the standing plantain on several hundreds of acres.

 Led by O.A. Narayanasamy, president of Tamil Vivasaayigal Sangam, villagers submitted a petition seeking immediate closure of a stone quarry situated at Akhilandapuram near Kayathar in the midst of ranches.

The petitioners said the stone being mined from the quarry situated in Akhilandapuram had almost wiped out agricultural operations in farms situated around this quarry. Hence, the Collector should save the farmers by closing down the stone quarry.