Several hundred farmers in Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) area displayed a show of strength before submitting a petition to the Public Works Department demanding water for second turn for dry crop cultivation.
Representatives of farmers’ associations said water for dry crop was not released for the last three years and charged the PWD with acting against the interests of farmers in LBP irrigational area.
Citing a Government Order issued by the State in 1963, the president of Lower Bhavani Farmers’ Federation P. Kasiannan said the PWD ought to fulfil water requirement in LBP area before releasing water for second crop in Kodiveri irrigation area.
Also, as per the recommendation of the Cauvery Tribunal, 4.65 tmc water must be released for irrigation in Kodiveri area, and 3.48 for Kalingarayan ayacut area.
Against the requirement to release 8.13 tmc to the two ayacut areas, the PWD had provided 17 tmc this year, due to which the second crop could not be cultivated in the LBP area. The PWD has not corrected its approach despite a representation made to the officials last November, Mr. Kasiannan said.
Farmers of LBP area have filed three writ petitions in the High Court and the reply to the petitions by the PWD was indicative of the department’s intention to “settle scores” with LBP farmers, Mr. Kasiannan said.
According to the representatives of farmers’ associations, the PWD was in a position to release water for the second crop by relying on the combined water storage of three tmc in Bhavani Sagar Dam and 10 tmc in Kundah and other hydel-power generating dams in the The Nilgiris district.
A Government Order issued in 1979 makes it possible for the PWD to utilise water in hydel reservoirs for irrigation, Mr. Kasiannan said.
Farmers have sought Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s intervention as the stand of the PWD is that Kundah Dam is under the care and control of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), formerly Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.