Channel not desilted citing fund crunch, allege farmers

(Rep Image)

A section of farmers using irrigation from a branch canal called Ramavathalai in Anthanallur union in Trichy district alleged that the authorities from the concerned department had not heeded their demand to desilt the irrigation channel, stating funds crunch.

The farmers affiliated with Cauvery River and Ramavathalai canal Kattalaithar Association headed by its president M Thiagarajan and secretary M Gunasekaran approached the district collector K Rajamani at the grievance day meeting held here on Monday and submitted a memorandum to desilt the canal. The collector immediately ordered the concerned officials to look into the matter, said M Thiagarajan.
Speaking to reporters, the farmers said that a total of 1,650 acres lands located in Thindukarai, Elamanur, Kodiyalam, Anthanallur, Ammankudi, Periyakaruppur and Chinnakaruppur villages are being irrigated by Ramavathalai canal. The water from Cauvery has not yet been released in this canal, as the desilting work has not been carried out they alleged.
They further stated that the funds allotted for the work has been utilised for other purposes. Temporary roads laid on the river bed of Cauvery to execute sand mining were largely blocking the flow of water. Moreover, most parts of the canal were being encroached. Despite repeated representation made by the farmers two months ago to the district collector, no action has been taken so far, they alleged.
They have also appealed to remove a concrete pillar being constructed in the middle of the canal by national highways authorities, which remained unutilised.

Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/channel-not-desilted-citing-fund-crunch-allege-farmers/articleshow/61022492.cms