Based on complaints from members of the Federation for Vandiyur Tank Water Development (FVTWD), the police cracked down on persons who had sprayed chemical fertilizers and pesticides on cucumber plants cultivated on the tank bed on Monday.
Sheik Dawood, president of FVTWD, said that despite repeated attempts to prohibit farming inside the tank, more than 20 persons were engaged in cultivation of cucumber. “We noticed a group of farmers spraying pesticides on the crop a week back and lodged a complaint since chemicals cannot be sprayed inside an irrigation tank,” he said.
On Monday morning, Mr. Sheik and a few members saw three workers spraying pesticides and informed the Anna Nagar police who arrived on the spot and seized the equipment used to spray the chemicals.
Police sources said that the workers were let off with a warning and the farmers cultivating cucumber inside the tank were asked to give a written undertaking that they would not use chemicals.
At present, more than 25 acres of the sprawling tank bed is being used to cultivate cucumber and farmers are spraying chemicals. “We have asked the corporation health officials and the PWD to take note of the cultivation activities inside the tank bed,” Mr. Sheik added.
Members of the FVTWD alleged that encroachments near the tank bed were becoming rampant. “A building constructed on the bank near the eastern side of the tank has encroached on the tank for parking vehicles. Even though there is a rule that there should not be any construction within 15 metres of the tank bed, there are buildings coming up,” they alleged.
They wanted a proper survey of the tank carried out by an independent body, for conservation of the water body.
