CM’s word ends Melur ryots’ stir for water in Periyar canal

Close to 86,000 acres in 60 villages in Melur region in Madurai district depend on the water of Periyar canal and in the entire region single crop system is practiced. Recently, water from Vaigai dam was opened for four months and the water reached up to Kallandhiri in Madurai district.

According to usual practice, water for Periyar canal in Melur and Thirumangalam canal would be opened for the final two months and if there was excess water, it would be released to PTR Canal and Thanthai Periyar canal.

But this year water was released for extended canals first. This had created a furore as farmers had demanded the government to release water into the Periyar canal.

However, as there was no response from the government, farmers had announced a strike on Monday. Over 1,000 shops were closed in Melur and the neighbouring villages. More than 5,000 farmers gheraoed the PWD office.

The protesters walked towards Madurai-Chennai national highways road and began a road roko at 11.30 am. It was then PWD CE Dhanapal and Madurai SP Manivannan went to the spot and held talks with the farmers.

The farmers demanded Madurai Collector K Veera Raghav Rao to interact with them. As the Collector did not pay heed, they continued the sit-in till 5.10 pm. They withdrew the protest only after learning that the Chief Minister had ordered to release 900 cusecs of water from the Vaigai dam for Melur and Thirumangalam canal.

Traffic on Madurai-Chennai National Highways road was affected for nearly six hours and the government buses were diverted via Azhagar Kovil to Madurai.