The row over the land and well earlier owned by P. Vijayalakshmi, wife of former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, came to an end on Wednesday with R. Subburaj, in whose name they were transferred recently, assuring to hand over the open well to the residents of Lakshmipuram.
The residents had been protesting against the digging of an open well in the land near the Varattaru river in Thamaraikulam village of Lakshmipuram panchayat to irrigate 200 acres of land since June 21. The plan was to fill up the open well with water drawn from four bore wells sunk around it. They staged a demonstration at the village against the Public Works Department officials on Wednesday for “falsely showing” the Varattaru as a dry stream in the report sent to the Theni Collector. The villagers alleged that the officials gave the “false information” in order to circumvent a court order banning any activity within a distance of 200 metres from rivers.
They also condemned the transfer of the land in dispute to Mr. Subburaj against the assurance of handing it over to the villagers free of cost, said Jayabal of Lakshmipuram near Periyakulam. The villagers came to know of the transfer of agricultural land and open well when they got the Encumbrance Certificate from the Sub-Registrar’s office, he added.
Impact on water table
A piece of land measuring one acre and 60 cents under survey number 3054, a well, along with a 5 HP motor, deposit for electricity connection, other equipment and coconut trees, and another land measuring six acres and 84 cents under survey number 2878/5 in the same village were transferred to Mr. Subburaj, the villagers claimed.
The villagers’ concern was that the bore wells around the open well would affect the ground water table and deprive them of water for irrigation.
In a meeting held on Wednesday, they sought the transfer of the whole land and well to them so that no attempt would be made in future to sink bore wells. However, they were assured that only the open well in 17 cents of land would be offered and not the whole land. Mr. Subburaj also assured to give in writing that no bore well would be sunk in the land in future. According to those who participated in the meeting, the assurance was given after relatives of Mr. Panneerselvam spoke to them over phone.
