more-in Farmers’ representatives have urged the Public Works Department to expedite renovation and repair of irrigation canals and water courses utilising the drought condition. Raising the issue at the grievance meeting, a cross section of the farmers demanded desilting of various canals, water bodies and their inlet canals. R.Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, called for steps to renovate all the 17 irrigation canals in the district before the onset of monsoon. He urged the government to take steps to remove the silt accumulated in the Mettur reservoir as the storage level is very low. N.Veerasekaran, coordinator, Ayyan Vaical Pasanatharar Sangam, said all works taken up by the PWD should be expedited. He urged the authorities to repair sluices and regulators of the Ayyan Vaical. The kudimaramathu scheme should be implemented with the involvement of existing farmers association, farmers’ groups and ayacudars associations in the respective areas instead of forming new committees. Puliyur A.Nagarajan, president, farmers’ wing of Tamil Maanila Congress, alleged that farmers were not being involved in executing the kudimaramathu work. He demanded renovation of inlet canals of the Puliyur tank. Emphasising the need for protecting water sources, Ayilai Siva.Suriyan, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, urged the government to ban sand mining from the Cauvery and the Coleroon as the groundwater table has gone down badly along rivers, which were being exploited for drinking water requirements of various cities and towns. The government should take steps to construct check dams across the Cauvery and the Coleroon, he said. Mr.Siva Suriyan called upon the Tangedco to ensure three-phase power supply to farm connections for six hours continuously. Responding to few complaints regarding drinking water supply, Collector K.S.Palanisamy said borewells were being sunk wherever necessary and there was no restriction on the depth of borewells.

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