Ryots besiege PWD office, seek water for withering crop

The agitating farmers said the PWD officials were releasing only around 150 cusecs of water each into the three canals, which they said was insufficient to save the standing samba crop. 

They demanded at least 400 cusecs of water each to be released immediately into the three canals to ensure timely support to the cultivators. Led by P Ayyakannu, president of Desiya Thennidia Nadigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, the farmers besieged the office of the chief engineer here and raised their demand. On information, Chief Engineer R Senthil Kumar held talks with the agitating farmers.

Speaking to media persons, Ayyakannu said, “The water would have reached the tail-end areas if the officials had spent the allocated funds properly by desilting the water bodies on a timely basis. Rampant sand mining is yet another major issue.”

“If the water flow is not increased in the next two days, we plan to stage a rail roko agitation by blocking the Vaigai Express near Pullambadi on Wednesday. Over 2,000 farmers will gather at the Pullambadi railway station for the protest,” warned Ayyakannu.