Step up release and ensure Cauvery water reaches tail-end areas in Tiruchi district, farmers urge officials

A farmer presents his grievance at the monthly meeting at the District Collectorate in Tiruchi on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
M. MOORTHY

A cross-section of farmers of Tiruchi on Friday urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to ensure that Cauvery water reached the tail-end areas in the district.

Speaking at the monthly agricultural grievances day meeting, presided over by Collector V. Saravanan, Goundampatti Subramanian, deputy secretary of Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association, said farmers were happy about the timely opening of Mettur dam. Water had been released in most of 17 canals, including Uyyakondan, Peruvalai, Ayyan vaical, Kattalai High Level Canal on the upper reach of the Cauvery from Grand Anicut. It required 4,300 cusecs so that the water reached tail-end areas. Hence, the department should take steps to increase the flow in the canals.

Several predominantly agricultural villages such as Ettarai, Koppu, Athavathur, Thayanur in the district faced short supply of water every year due to inefficient distribution mechanism. Considering the comfortable storage in Mettur dam, the authorities should ensure optimum release of water in the canals during the current season.

GI tag for banana

Ayilai Sivasurian, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said several areas of Tiruchi and Karur districts, including Musiri, Srirangam, Lalgudi, Thiruverumbur, Krishnarayapuram, and Kulithalai, were known for top quality nendran banana. It had a great demand in Kerala. The nendran banana variety should be given geographical indication (GI) tag. Similarly, elarasi variety of banana, which was being produced in Tiruchi district, had been enjoying high patronage in Karnataka. Hence, the State government should take steps to get GI tag for both nendran and elarasi varieties of banana. The recognition would augur well for the farmers, who raise the banana varieties.

There were reports of sale of adulterated seeds and fertilizers in the market. It would have severe impact on the production of agricultural commodities. Hence, the Agricultural Department should take steps to check the sale of adulterated seeds and fertilizers.

P. Ayyakannu, president, Desiya Thenninthiya Nadhigal Inaippur Vivasayigal Sangam, said the district administration should take steps to provide 100 days employment to the workers of Kottathur enrolled in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.