Farmers from various associations walked out of the farmers’ grievance meeting held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday.
Farmers, including Periyar Single Crop Area Farmers’ Association Secretary P. Ravi, were protesting against the construction of the ₹1,200-crore Mulla Periyar drinking water Project.
“The primary purpose of the dam is to provide water for irrigation, particularly for the double crop and single crop areas all the way from Theni to Sivaganga. By earmarking an additional 125 mld, the government is eating into our water needs for agriculture,” he said.
Other farmers from the tail-end areas said that they were already struggling to get access to enough water when it was released by the Public Works Department.
“It will be worse when water is extracted from the dam. It is a natural resource. We should not overexploit it,” said farmers.
They said Madurai must make steps to find alternative drinking water sources.
When Collector (in-charge) S. Shanta Kumar got up to step outside for a meeting, the farmers too decided to leave the place.
“We already do not have a Collector. The District Revenue Office who is holding additional charge is also leaving. Who will redress our issues?” the agriculturists asked.
Officials were seen trying to convince farmers to come back to the meeting. The farmers obliged and said that they would take part in the meeting only when the Collector (in-charge) returned.
Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers’ Association State president N. Palanichamy said that farmers were yet to be paid their dues for crushing sugarcane.
