Altercation broke out between farmers’ association during the farmers grievance redress meeting at Collectorate here on Thursday over the illegal release of water from Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal to fill Odathurai lake in Kavindapadi.
Due to severe drought, water was released from Bhavanisagar dam into LBP canal from April 29 for 15 days.
Farmers alleged that the water was illegally released from May 16 to 20 from the dam.
The emergency shutters in the canal were opened by the Public Works Department (PWD) officials and water released into the lake.
Members of Thadapalli – Arakankottai Pasana Sabai and Keel Bhavani Vivasayigal Nala Sangam strongly opposed the illegal water release and added that officials followed the instruction of a Minister whose engineering college was located near the lake.
Farmers said that despite submission of photographs and video footage showing the illegal water release, no action was taken. This was opposed by the members of Odathurai Kulam Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam and altercation broke during farmers in the meeting. Erode Town DSP Radhakrishnan pacified the farmers.
Farmers said that the key for the emergency shutters were found near the college and attempted to hand it over to the District Collector S. Prabhakar.
District Collector asked the farmers to handover the key to the PWD officials and announced that the meeting was over and left the hall.
