“Release 2,000 cusecs of water”

Standing crop will be destroyed if water release is not stepped up, say farmers

K.P. Palanisamy, District Collector, administering the oral pellet vaccines to a hen at farmers' grievances day meeting in Tiruchi on Friday.— PHOTO: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

A number of agriculturists who participated at the farmers’ grievances day meeting held here on Friday urged the district administration to step up discharge of water from the Mettur Dam to meet the drinking water requirement and save the standing crop in and around Tiruchi. They said water discharge should be increased to benefit farmers dependent on the 17 irrigation channels in the district.

Initiating a discussion, R. Subramaniam, deputy general secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said standing crop would wither away if water supply was not stepped up. He said drinking water crisis was crippling the villages in and around Tiruchi district. A. Nagarajan, state president of the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Producers Association, said the administration should impress upon the Public Works Department about the crisis after a sharp rise in the mercury level.

Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district secretary of the Communist Party of India-led Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said that with the water level standing above a comfortable range of 70 feet at the Mettur Dam, the daily discharge of water should be stepped up.

N. Veerasekaran, coordinator of the Ayyan Vaikkal Ayacutdars Association, pleaded for prompt disbursement of dues to sugarcane growers by the mills during the current season. Both Mr. Veeraseakaran and C. Masilamani, district secretaries of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, wanted dredging of supply channels and irrigation sources during the summer.

K.S. Palanisamy, Collector, who presided, assured farmers that their demand would be conveyed to the state government. He said that the PWD had initiated steps for enhancing discharge of water from the Mettur dam to 1,000 cusecs with effect from today.

Replying to a plea by Gandhi Pithan, a progressive farmer from Thottiyam, to check the slaughter of oxen during a forthcoming festival at a local temple in Thottiyam, the Collector said that the revenue and police officials have been advised to convene a meeting of the local villagers and neighbouring residents to avoid the slaughter.

When P. Viswanathan, state president of the Tamizhaga Eri Mattrum Attrupasana Vivasayigal Sangam wanted the revenue divisional-level farmers’ grievances day meeting to be held in Manapparai and Thuraiyur, the Collector assured him of prompt action with effect from next month. The farmers said the meetings were being held at the offices of the Revenue Divisional Officer in Musiri and at Cholan Nagar near Tiruchi.

Earlier, the Collector asked the farmers to check the incidence of raniket disease among chicken. He explained the procedure to be followed using oral pellet vaccines.

P.N. Richard Jagatheesan, Professor and Head, Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, who clarified doubts, said farmers could get pellets at the centre in Ramalinga Nagar. The Collector said the pellets would eliminate the use of conventional vaccines in which farmers have to bring the birds to the veterinary hospital.