Sathankulam farmers demand water release to save withering crops

Demanding the release of water through the Manimuthar third reach canal to save the withering crops, farmers from Sathankulam region submitted a petition at Thoothukdudi Collectorate on Monday.

The petition was submitted at the weekly grievance redressal meeting chaired by Thoothukudi District Collector K. Elambahavath.

The farmers from Meerankulam region near Sathankulam, carrying withered crops, submitted the petition. The petition stated that the tanks in and around Vallakulam, Arasarkulam, Kurippankulam, Perumalkulam, Meerankulam, ,Puthukulam, Vettikulam, Arivanmozhi and Kattarimangalam had not filled completely due to insufficient rainfall. As a result, there is no water in these tanks, all agricultural crops are currently in withering condition. It added that if the situation continues the crops will be completely destroyed, resulting in the heavy loss to farmers.

They urged that the water be released through Manimuthar dam’s third reach canal for irrigation purposes.

Plea against quarry

In another petition, residents of Aiyyanar Oothu village near Kayathar stated that the existing stone quarry in their village is causing severe noise pollution and adversely affecting the agriculture in the surrounding areas. The further mentioned that a person has now applied for permission to establish a new stone quarry. As the quarrying would completely affect agriculture, they demanded that permission to set up a quarry in their village be denied.