Farmers against lifting water from Vaigai for drinking water project for Kariapatti, Mallankinaru

Farmers in Sivaganga oppose integrated drinking water project from Vaigai river, demand consultation on industrial allotments and water release.

The State government should drop the proposal to implement an integrated drinking water project for Kariapatti and Mallankinaru in Virudhunagar district by taking water from Vaigai river, said farmers in Sivaganga on Friday.

They raised this issue at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting chaired by Collector Asha Ajith.

Farmer Adimoolam said Sivaganga district received scanty rainfall and farmers relied solely on Vaigai river. Still, there were hurdles in getting water for irrigation from Vaigai dam for Sivaganga district as it received only one-third of its share from the reservoir. In the event of monsoon failure, the situation may turn from bad to worse. Also, officials may not release water from the dam when there were not much rains. Hence, the Tamil Nadu government should drop the idea of taking water from the Vaigai for the integrated project for Kariapatti and Mallankinaru, he said.

Farmers should be consulted by the officials before giving allotment or any letter in principle to industries in the SIPCOT industrial estate in the district, said farmers Ramalingam and Viswanathan. The public should be heard and consulted. The farmers were not opposed to industries, but they were only apprehensive over pollution of water bodies which were the irrigation source.

Farmer Chandran alleged that the authorities had not followed the norms in the release of water in Periyar channel. As a result, many farmers were left in the lurch. The Collector should order a probe into it, he said.

When there were 45 panchayats in Tirupuvanam union, only four among them received funds, said farmer Raja and demanded an investigation.