Farmers of Melur were quick to oppose a proposal from a fellow farmer from Usilampatti who sought diversion of Periyar water meant for double crop area adjoining Madurai and single crop area in Melur to Uslimpatti owing to shrinking of area under cultivation in those areas.
P. Manikandan, of Madurai District Wet Land and Dry Land Farmers’ Association, raised the issue at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting here on Friday.
Vast tracts of cultivable land adjoining Madurai had shrunk owing to urbanisation in the 100 wards. Similarly, sprawling farm lands in Melur and Madurai North taluks had been left fallow following large scale quarrying of granite. “The water credit meant for these lands should be diverted to Usilampatti through the 58-village canal scheme,” he said. However, farmers of Melur area were up on their toes and opposed it.
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“He is trying to give a wrong picture. Farmers of Melur region have been suffering owing to shortage of water. We cannot think of diverting our credit to Usilampatti,” Rajamanickam said.
He was supported by Palanichamy, State president of Tamil Nadu Cane Growers’ Association. “Farmers have been fighting to restore all those irrigation tanks and channel that were destroyed due to illegal mining. Only when they are revived could more land be brought under cultivation and there is no need for any diversion,” he said. As tempers rose over the issue, Collector, L. Subramanian ended the discussion by saying that these were legal issues and could not be discussed in the forum.
A farmer, V. Adakkiveeranan, complained that several land disputes could not be resolved in Melur area owning to shortage of surveyors. Admitting that there were many posts of surveyor remained vacant, Mr. Subramanian said that special efforts were being made to depute surveyors from other areas to resolve land disputes.
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Mr. Adakkiveeranan also complained agriculture and horticulture officers were not visiting remote areas of Alagarkoil to guide farmers. The Joint Director of Agriculture, A.J.A. Jeyasingh Gnanadurai, said officials were mandated to visit every village periodically and prior announcement of their visits should be made public. “Stringent action will be taken against the erring officials,” he said.
“Several land disputes could not be resolved in Melur area owning to shortage of surveyors”