Ryots demand immediate desilting of lakes

The state executive meeting of Tank and River Ayacutdars Welfare Association was held here on Thursday.

At the meeting, farmers recalled that the state government had already announced desilting works of 2,065 water bodies across the state and allocated a fund of Rs 300 crore for the purpose.

The association demanded the state government to execute the project at the earliest so that it would be beneficial to farmers in the pre-monsoon period. The association warned that farmers would organise a state-wide protest on May 17 if the proposed desilting works are not started.

Meanwhile, the association urged the state government to ensure farmers undertake kuruvai cultivation this season for which it should initiate steps to get the state’s due of 65 TMC water from Karnataka.

Similarly, they also passed a resolution stating that the Centre should allocate an additional fund of Rs 1540 crore to the sugarcane farmers to be disbursed as the additional MSP. The association has sent copies of the resolution to both state and central governments for their immediate consideration.