A large number of farmers of Pullampadi, anxious over the withering samba paddy crop, resorted to a road blockade on the Tiruchi-Chidambaram National Highway on Friday demanding immediate release of water for irrigation n Pullampadi canal to save the standing crop.
Farmers from Pullampadi, Venkatachalapuram, Nathamangudi, Kovandakurichi, Alambakkam, Pudurpalayam, Vanrampalayam, Viragalur, Thinnakulam and other villages have been hit hard, the agitators contended.
“Standing crops in about 10,000 acres are withering as the fields are drying up. Unless we get water immediately, the crops will be completely destroyed. We have petitioned all, including the Chief Minister and the Governor, but no action has been taken so far. Hence we were left with no option but to block the road, said P. M. Sahadevan of Pullampadi Vaical Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam. “We need an immediate wetting for 130 days duration,” he said.
