A total of 20 farmers, including 91-year-old C. Nainar Kulasekaran, founder of Tamirabharani River Water Protection Federation, launched an indefinite fast at Nattathi in Srivaikuntam taluk on Tuesday, urging the government authorities to set up a joint committee to monitor the desilting work under way in Srivaikuntam dam.
Mr. Kulasekaran said that the committee should comprise farmers, officials and the public to monitor the work to ensure transparency. He alleged irregularities in the work being executed by the Public Works Department.
White paper sought
He appealed to the authorities to expedite the work to ensure adequate storage of water during monsoon. Earlier, he sought the district administration to release a white paper on the work, since it had not been done properly as defined by National Green Tribunal (NGT).
PWD sources, however, said that the farmers’ demand for setting up of a joint committee should be placed before the NGT, which withheld the committee that was constituted earlier this month.
The NGT formed a five-member committee, including Mr. Kulasekaran and R. Nallakannu, senior leader of the Communist Party of India, on September 10 to monitor the desilting work, but withheld the committee from delivering any action on September 14 after the PWD authorities objected to its formation.
PWD sources denied any possibility of irregularities in mining sand from the work site since permit pass was given to collect sand after tender formalities were completed and anybody could check whether any violation was done.
The PWD undertook preliminary works in the dam on June 30 and other works, including sand mining, commenced in full swing on August 16.
The desilting work was being carried out for 5.1 kilometres on the upstream side, and the NGT had ordered completion of the work by December, sources added.
They insist on the setting up of a joint committee to monitor desilting work under way in Srivaikuntam dam
