Trichy: Hundreds of farmers from six villages in Tiruvarur district resorted to a road blockade on Mavur Vellaiyaru bridge on Tuesday accusing the PWD authorities of not releasing water into important branch canals. Water had not been let into their irrigation canals for many days after nine shutters of the Mukkombu barrage were washed away on August 22. The farmers said that standing crops on 8,000 acres were in withering state because of this.Farmers from villages including Veppaththankudi, Thirukkaravasal, Pinnavasal, Kunniyur and Mavur gathered on the bridge across the Vellaiyaru river and blocked vehicular traffic raising slogans demanding water to safeguard the standing samba crop. Functionaries of various political parties including DMK’s union secretary, Pulivalam Deva, and CPM state committee member I V Nagarajan led the protest. They pointed out that rivers such as Vallaiyaru, Pandavaiyaru, Paminiyaru, Odampokki and Koraiyaru were taking a course from Vennaru at Moonaru thalaippu near Needamangalam in Tiruvarur district. These rivers were irrigating thousands of acres of agriculture land in parts of Tiruvarur district.“The farmers, particularly hailing from Veppaththankudi, Thirukkaravasal, Pinnavasal, Kunniyur and Mavur, are irrigating their land from Vellaiyaru and Odampokki rivers. We had rejoiced when the Mettur reservoir attained full capacity after many years. Hoping that we will get enough water on the required dates, we had raised samba paddy crop for more than 8,000 acres and we also got water for some days”, said P Narayanan, a farmer from Pinnavasal. However, their expectations crashed after the destruction of shutters at Mukkombu, the farmers lamented.“A large quantum of water flowed on Kollidam river for more than 15 days leaving us in the lurch as we could not get the required water on time. Nearly 5,000 cusecs of water had been let out into Kollidam river from Mukkombu and Kallanai. The PWD authorities must properly plan and release water into Vennaru from Kallanai (Grand Anaicut) so that we get the required water to safeguard our standing crop”, a farmer from Mavur said. PWD assistant executive engineer Surendran held talks with the agitating farmer and assured them that water will be released for irrigation within 10 days. Following the assurance, the protesters dispersed from the spot after many hours, which brought the vehicular traffic to a stop.

Stay updated with all the Latest Trichy headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.