Representatives of farmers on Friday complained that the water released in irrigation canals was yet to reach tail-end areas and urged the district administration to ensure proper management and sharing of water to enable farmers take up samba paddy cultivation.
Raising the issue at the grievance meeting here, Puliyur A.Nagarajan, president, farmers wing of the Tamil Maanila Congress, said though water was released from Mettur Dam on October 2 it has not reached the tail-end areas of 17 irrigation canals branching off the Cauvery. The administration should take steps to ensure that the water released reach the tail-end areas of canals, especially those of Kattalai High Level Canal, Ramavathalai and Peruvalai canals.
The available storage at Mettur Dam would last only 50 days and the government should take steps to get Tamil Nadu’s due share of water from Karnataka as per the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.
Koundampatti R.Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Famers Welfare Association, emphasised the need for proper regulation of water flow in the canals so as to ensure that farmers in the tail-end areas were able to take up cultivation. “As of now, farmers in tail-end areas are not sure whether or not they will get adequate water,” he said.
Tail end areas of Peruvalai, Ayyan, Uyyakondan and New Kattalai High Level Canal were get to water even though farmers have started raising nurseries in the hope of getting water, said P.Viswanathan, president, Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Attru Pasan Vivasayigal Sangam.
Some representatives alleged that a few influential persons were diverting water from canals to irrigate their fields. Responding to the complaints, Collector K.Rajamani said a team of officials from Public Works Department and Revenue would be formed to monitor and assess the water flow in the canals. He warned of stern action against those attempting to illegally tap water for irrigation from the canals.
A section of farmers complained of delay in sanction of fresh loans by primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS). P.K.Shanmugasundaram, district president, Desiya Thennindia Nadigal Inaippu Vivasayigal Sangam, said some PACS were insisting on documents which the district authorities have said were not required. Some PACS were not converting short term loans into medium term ones under the loan waiver scheme announced by the government.
Mr.Rajamani said that action would be taken against secretaries of PACS who seek documents which were not necessary for sanctioning loans and against those who refuse fresh crop loans to farmers without valid reasons.
Ayilai Siva.Suriyan, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the Communist Party of India, criticised the Aavin management for forcing milk producers cooperative societies to sell packets of fire crackers to milk producers ahead of the Deepavali festival. “The cracker packets were priced at Rs. 350 but the contents inside were hardly worth the money. The sum is to be deducted in three instalments from the milk producers,” he charged.
