Farmers from the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) ayacut have appealed to the State Government to extend the duration of water release from the Bhavanisagar reservoir.
The normal date of closing of the dam is December 15. But the farmers in the ayacut will require water till December 30 as the paddy crop in most parts is in the flowering stage, LBP Farmers Association president S. Nallasamy has told a farmers grievances redress meeting held here on Friday.
2 lakh hectares
Over two lakh hectares are being irrigated using the water from LBP canal. The administration should take the farmers' demand to the notice of the State government immediately, Mr. Nallasamy insisted.
Agreeing with the farmers, Collector V.K. Shanmugam promised to take steps to extend the duration of water release by another 15 days. Kalingarayan Pasana Sabhai president V.M. Velayudham wanted the administration to work out a comprehensive plan to strengthen the bunds of Kalingarayan canal, the lifeline of thousands of farmers in the district.
The bunds suffered severe damages during the recent floods in the district. “A solution should be worked out so that the bunds of the canal could withstand during floods,” he said.
Thadapalli – Arakkankottai Pasana Sabhai president Thalapathi urged the administration not to permit sand quarrying in Bhavani river as it would prove detrimental to the interests of the farming community in the district.
There were initiatives to allow sand quarrying in the river, he pointed out and claimed that such as move would only benefit the sand mafia.
Instead of making such a move, the administration should bring in concrete measures to prevent illegal sand quarrying that was rampant in Bhavani river, he said.
Turmeric
Many farmers also raised the issue of drastic fall in the prices of turmeric and wanted the government to fix a minimum support price for the yellow spice.
Discussing the pollution related problems, farmers urged the administration to demolish all the unauthorised textile processing units functioning in the district.
Senior officials were present in the meeting.
