Farmers seek water release extension; raise sand mining irregularities

Farmers from Kanniyakumari district sought an extension of water release from the Pechiparai and Perunchani dams until March 15, as harvesting in the tail-end region is expected to take a few more weeks.

The demand was raised at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting chaired by Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena on Wednesday.

Responding to the request, authorities said that the proposal has been sent to extend the release of water from both dams. If approved, water will be released only through required channels to benefit the farmers in tail-end regions.

At the meeting, farmers raised various concerns, including the difficulties in selling harvested paddy at the procurement centres, highlighting the delay in the issuance of patta and ‘adangal’ documents required at the procurement centres. They also urged the district administration to establish a marketing committee in the district, similar to those functioning in other districts, to fix daily market prices for coconuts.

Farmers further requested that the coconut value addition centre established in Chenbagaramanputhoor be made completely operational at the earliest.

A section of farmers raised concerns over the alleged permission granted by the Department of Mines and irregularity in sand mining in patta lands in the district.

A. Wins Anto of Kodhayar Irrigation Project Committee, in his petition, said authorities had reportedly granted permission for extracting soil from various locations such as Vellamodi and Palavilai areas in the district.

The petition added that there have been allegations that officials had allowed the transportation of soil, leading to damage to irrigation canals and plundering the naturally formed hillocks in the district.

The petition urged the authorities to prevent this mining and take necessary action against the authorities involved in granting permissions without district collector’s knowledge.

Farmers also pointed out that although officials from Railway and Water Resource Department (WRD) had inspected the damages caused to waterbodies in the district, during the railway double track project and NHAI’s four lane project, necessary remedial measures must be taken.

Addressing the concerns, Ms. Alagumeena, said that necessary action will be taken to expedite paddy procurement in the district. The collector further instructed the WRD authorities to assign a nodal officer to review and rectify the damages caused in waterbodies during railway and NHAI’S works in the district.

The Collector also addressed alleged irregularities in sand mining issues with respective officials from the Department of Mines and stated that appropriate actions will be taken.

District Revenue Officer A. Poongothai, Agriculture Joint Director M.R. Vani, WRD executive engineer Vasanthi and other officials were present.