THOOTHUKUDI
Members of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association on Monday demanded release of more water from Papanasam dam for cultivation in the district.
T. Srinivasan, vice-president of the association, said only 40% of the agricultural lands in the district had been irrigated by water released from Papanasam dam. “We want an additional 800 cusecs to be released from the dam,” he said.
The farmers said water from Korkai, Arumugamangalam and Peikulam tanks had not reached most of the lands, as the quantity of water released was meagre. “Crops such as banana and betel leaf have started to wither because of lack of water,” they said in their petition submitted to Collector Sandeep Naduri.
Following residents of various villages and contract workers, who demanded reopening of Sterlite Copper plant, a number of transport workers on Monday submitted a petition to the Collector pressing for the same demand.
In their petition, they said industrialisation had helped in uplifting Thoothukudi. “However, after the closure of Sterlite plant, it seems like we are going behind by 15 years,” the petition said. They also said the anti-Sterlite protests were instigated by rumours.
B. Jerold, a country boat owner from Amali Nagar, submitted a petition to the Assistant Director (Fisheries) seeking formation of a new co-operative society to distribute subsidised kerosene. In his petition, he said many boat owners were disgruntled with the existing committee members in view of corruption charges against them.
