Farmers resorted to road blockades at four different places in Tiruvarur district on Saturday demanding release of adequate water in the irrigation canals to enable them take up samba paddy cultivation without any hitch.
Farmers, especially who had opted for direct sowing, were facing a problem as the water flow in the Cauvery was disrupted following the partial collapse of the regulator across Kollidam river at Upper Anicut.
Alleging that their direct sown crop was on the verge of wilting, farmers of Andipandal, Vadakarai Thenkarai, Magizhancheri, Thirupanaiyur, Panankudi and Uthankudi and a few other villages resorted to a road blockade on the Tiruvarur-Nagapattinam Road at Andipandal.
Similarly farmers of Panaiyur, Nallur, Kottur and Sothriyam resorted to a blockade in front of the Public Works Department office at Thattankovil. Alleging that crops in about 1,500 acres have started wilting at Kovilur, another group of farmers resorted to similar protest at the village near Muthupettai. Former MLA Ulaganathan led a group of farmers demanding release of water near the bus stand in Thiruthuraipoondi.
The protests were withdrawn after PWD and police officials held talks with the agitators and assured steps to ensure flow of water in the canals.
Meanwhile, S. K. Prabhakar, Principal Secretary, PWD, inspected the release of water from Grand Anicut into the GA Canal, Cauvery, and Vennar and ascertained the quantum of water flow. Accompanied by Collector A. Annadurai and senior PWD engineers, he also inspected the water flow in some of the irrigation canals in different parts of Thanjavur district. He instructed field officers of the PWD to ensure that the water reached the tail-end areas of the canals.
