Start channel desilting work immediately: Farmers

Trichy: The agricultural engineering department organized a consultative meeting in Thanjavur on Monday to discuss the desilting of irrigation channels and drainage channels. Dozens of farmers attended the session and pressed the officials to initiate the desilting work immediately and before the model code of conduct (MCC) comes into force for the upcoming assembly election.The department convened the meeting specifically to gather suggestions and opinions from farmers on the desilting of C and D irrigation channels as well as drainage channels that branch off from the A and B channels managed by the water resources department. This year, the department plans to begin these works well in advance, ahead of the election. In Thanjavur district, the department is responsible for desilting around 1,143km of C and D channels. Farmers appealed for priority desilting of at least 300km of channels that have needed attention for many years. Officials assured the farmers that work would begin in the coming weeks, prior to the enforcement of the MCC.As many as 67 farmers, including representatives from various farmer associations, took part in the meeting, chaired by joint director of agriculture and farmers' welfare department G Vidya.Executive Engineer of the Agricultural Engineering Department L. Ayyappan and other senior officials were also present during the meeting.