Just as dispersed interest groups across constituencies in the State keep announcing poll boycott to pressure political parties into fulfilling promises locally, the farmers lobby is all set to secure signed undertaking from candidates contesting in three Assembly constituencies here for an irrigation project.
The demand pertains to the promise of the Badedalavu irrigation project (locally known as the Periya Eri Kalvaai Thittam) that is slated to benefit the Assembly constituencies of Bargur, Vepanapalli, and Krishnagiri.
An estimated 31 panchayats in the three Assembly constituencies is expected to benefit from the scheme, once implemented.
Incidentally, the project that has been in the proposal stage for the last 15 years, would figure during every election in the local candidate’s manifesto, alleges Vijay Kumar, co-ordinator, Badedalavu Irrigation Project’s beneficiaries committee here.
The irrigation project envisions channelising water from river Thenpennai to Badedalavu lake.
Even as the farmers of over 31 panchayats dispersed across the three constituencies are simultaneously toying with the idea of a poll boycott, the irrigation project committee wants to put to constructive pressure on the candidates instead.
However, a poll boycott would be a travesty of a democratic exercise and therefore seek to hold a public hearing with farmers on April 7 at Badedalavu lake, says Mr.Vijay Kumar.
A five-line brief undertaking, makes a bid for a signed commitment from the candidates declaring that they would strive tirelessly for the cause of the project in the Assembly, once elected. We intend to give the elected candidate a year’s time to figure out the clearances for the project, says Mr.Vijay Kumar.
In the same vein, the Committee has called for a public hearing of farmers, to ascertain their voices on poll boycott, or alternatively use their power of vote to push for the much-awaited irrigation project, here at Badedalavu on April 7.
