It’s double whammy for Delta farmers

In Thanjavur, erratic power supply aggravates water supply crisis

Farmers speaking to collector K. Baskaran at farmers grievances meeting in Thanjavur on Friday. Photo: B. Velankanni Raj

Farmers of Thanjavur district alleged malpractices in the co-operative elections being held in Thanjavur district and appealed to the district administration to ensure a free and fair poll. They demanded supply of three-phase power continuously for agricultural pumpsets and in villages so that drinking water could be pumped into overhead tanks.

Highlighting these two issues, they wore black badges and attended the monthly q day meeting at the collectorate. They contested the statement of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (Tangedco) that three-phase supply was being given for three hours during the day and for three hours at night in the district.

They said this statement made at the agriculture grievances day meeting is contrary to truth and three-phase supply was not given even for two hours a day. However, Tangedco engineers admitted that there may be shortfall in three-phase supply whenever there was problem in wind energy generation.

K. Baskaran, Collector, who presided over the meeting, said that samba crop was raised on 1,02,939 hectares of land and thaladi on 19,003 hectares of land this year in Thanjavur district. Harvest had been completed. Average yield was 4,511 kg a hectare. During this summer season, paddy had been cultivated on 4,834 hectares of land.

It had been planned to build 5,000 farm ponds in the district out of which, beneficiaries had been selected for 4,998 farm ponds.

It had been planned to conduct

Uzhavar Vizhas in 759 revenue villages. So far, these had been held in 223 villages. Black gram seeds were now distributed for cultivation. There was a stock of 160 tonnes of ADT 5 and ADT 3 black gram seeds in agriculture extension centres.

Fertilizers

There was a stock of 3,822 tonnes of urea, 6,323 tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and 1,484 tonnes of potash and 2,476 tonnes of complex fertilizers in the co-operative and private institutions. These had been sold to farmers.

T. Selvam, a farmer from Kalimedu village, said farmers who get irrigation under New Kattalai Uyarmatta Kalvai and Uyyakundan extension canal and lakes could not take up cultivation in Budalur areas this year for want of water. They should be provided a relief of Rs. 20,000 an acre. There was drinking water scarcity for both people and cattle at many places in Budalur and Thanjavur Panchayat Unions. The government should dig deep borewells in lake beds and fill the lakes with water so that people and cattle could overcome the drinking water problem.

He demanded removing of silt of Mudalaimuthu Vaari. Mohammed Yahiya, Joint Director of Agriculture, and Ramadoss, Deputy Director of Agriculture, were present.