Farmers demand release of water to safeguard crops

TRICHY: Farmers from Trichy have demanded that the state government release water in Cauvery to safeguard standing cash crops such as banana, sugarcane and betel vine which have been raised on thousands of acres. Speaking at the grievance day meeting held here on Friday, the farmers said that they were getting water from 17 canals which take course from Uyyakondan and Kattalaimettu vaickal.So, the district administration should ensure the flow of water in these 17 canals till April-end at least.
State organizer of the farmers’ wing of Tamil Manila Congress, Puliyur A Nagarajan claimed that as per the order issued by the British government in 1937, it has been clearly stated that farmers getting irrigation water from the 17 canals have rights to get water for almost the whole year.
Nagarajan also alleged that the meagre quantum of water flowing in the Cauvery has been completely withdrawn by farmers in Namakkal and Karur districts by lift irrigation method.
“Farmers residing along the banks of Cauvery from Namakkal to Karur districts suck the meagre water released from Mettur reservoir for drinking purposes using giant motor pumps. They have no legal right to use water using motor pumps. District collector should take action to stop such practice,” he further said.
Trichy district secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI, Ayilai Sivasuriyan, brought a bunch of paddy crop affected by pests, that was raised in Vengur area in Thiruverumbur block and showed it to the collector. He also demanded agriculture officials to look into the matter immediately.
State spokesperson of Bharathiya Kisan Sangam N Veerasekaran too demanded water be released till the end of March for standing crops.
Earlier, functionaries of all farmers associations including Nagarajan, Sivasuriyan, state president of Desiya Thenninthiya Nathigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam P Ayyakkannu, Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Attru Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam P Viswanathan staged a protest demanding to disburse Gaja relief to the affected banana, sugarcane farmers in Trichy district in front of the collector’s office.