Though the rise in storage level to 142 feet in the Periyar dam has raised hopes of water reaching more areas in the southern districts, farmers of Lower Kiruthumal Basin, which is part of the Vaigai system, feel that they are left high and dry. Ever since the river turned a flood carrier after water release from the Vaigai was stopped, about 15, 000 acres of land in Sivaganga, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts had turned arid as 46 tanks had gone dry.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Alathur K. Govindasamy, president of Vaigai-Kiruthumal Nadhi Paasana Vivasayigal Sangam, claimed that a government order dated October 13, 1979, made the Kiruthumal liable to carry only the flood surplus from the Vaigai. But, in reality, it was part of the Vaigai system, comprising Upper Vaigai, Middle Vaigai, Lower Vaigai, Upper Kiruthumal and Lower Kiruthumal. After a protracted court battle, water was released in the Kiruthumal till 1998 and later once in 2012. With the level in Periyar dam going up, the government should initiate steps to release water in the Kiruthumal from the Vaigai, Mr. Govindasamy said.
C. Natarajan, secretary, said that absence of water release in the Kiruthumal had resulted in thousands of people migrating to towns and cities in search of menial jobs. The situation was so grave that villages in the Lower Kiruthumal basin faced a drinking water crisis. Lack of agricultural income also affected education of children.
The farmers wanted the government to invite the Virudhunagar Collector also for the customary meeting of four Collectors prior to opening of the Vaigai dam. They said that the Virudhunagar Collector did not attend the meeting, in which his counterparts from Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram participated, since 1995.
In order to press their demand for water release in the Kiruthumal, the Lower Kiruthumal farmers will observe a relay fast here from January 20.
