Farmers urged the district administration and the Public Works Department to plan properly in dredging irrigation channels in Tiruvarur district. The works must be taken up ahead of the irrigation season when water will be let into the channels, they pointed out at the grievances day meet here on Thursday.
Raising the issue, Sundaramoorthy of the Tamil Nadu Vivasyigal Sangam said the officials arbitrarily planned and undertook the dredging of irrigation channels. Either they were being dredged during the irrigation period when water was let into the channels or just ahead of the water release because of which some times water release used to be delayed affecting farmers.
Calling for proper planning on the part of the district administration and the Public Works Department officials in dredging works, Mr. Sundaramoorthy wanted the officials to co-opt farmers so that any crisis could be averted and farmers would not suffer.
Backing the demand, another farmer Thangaiyyan of Agara Thirunallur wanted dredging to be a hassle-free and smooth process by keeping farmers informed of the schedule and by avoiding eleventh hour activities that delayed water release in the channels.
Dredging work must be taken up and completed sincerely and not for the sake of simply making a show of it, he added.
S.V. Ramakrishnan of Kangalanchery called upon the officials to replace and repair damaged shutters and sluices across the irrigation channels as many had been worn out or damaged over the years. Also, the Public Works Department officials could think of removing sand shoals on the Vettar river course as they were hindering free flow of the meagre water made available to tail end farmers.
Koradachery Thangasamy of the Sugar Cane Growers’ Association demanded Rs. 3,500 a tonne for cane supplied to the sugar mills. He wanted the district administration to take steps to get the arrears with interest because of cane suppliers from the Thiru Arooran Sugar Mills.
Stating that paddy harvest machines were scarce in Tiruvarur district, Sethuraman of Kodavasal alleged that staff at the direct purchase centres were siphoning off Rs. 30 per bag from the amount to be paid to paddy farmers. That practice must be prevented urgently, he said.
District Revenue Officer T. Mohanraj and Joint Director of Agriculture K. Mayilvahanan participated in the deliberations.
Officials accused of arbitrarily planning dredging
Cane growers want Rs. 3,500 a tonne from mills
