Members of Periyar Single Crop Farmers’ Association staged a protest at the Public Works Department (PWD) office here on Wednesday, seeking water supply to irrigate the standing crop in tail-end areas.
According to the farmers, the tail-end areas in Madurai district under single crop cultivation did not receive adequate supply of water. The PWD introduced turn system only for single crop areas and not for double-crop areas, fields irrigated by the PTR canal and those in Cumbum Valley, they claimed. They insisted that turn system should be introduced in the other areas as well and water supply for fish cultivation should be stopped to save the standing crop.
Besides, mobile units should be formed with the help of police to curb water theft. They demanded 60 days of water supply for the single crop areas.
PWD officials, who held talks with the farmers, gave assurance to maintain continuous water supply for 15 days from December 12. They also assured that water would be supplied under turn system to single crop area under Periyar and Tirumangalam main canals, the farmers said.
