Farmers protested on the sluice gates of Thondamuthur Branch Canal near Pollachi, demanding two additional days of water release. They highlighted ongoing dry conditions affecting crops.
Coimbatore: Hundreds of farmers gathered today on the sluice gates of the Thondamuthur Branch Canal near Pollachi, staging a protest to urge the authorities for an extension of water release into the canal for two more days. The canal, part of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project, currently operates under a restricted schedule which residents claim is inadequate for the irrigation needs of about 2,000 acres of agricultural land.
The demonstration comes at a time when only five days of water release has been allowed for the current cycle, which the farmers argue is insufficient due to the lack of recent rainfall and subsequent dry conditions. They expressed significant concerns over the dying coconut trees and the overall drought affecting their crops. The farmers raised slogans and emphasized the dire need for additional water to ensure all fields, including those at the tail end of the canal, receive adequate irrigation. Despite their ongoing protests, official responses have been lacking, adding to the farmers' grievances.
The demonstration comes at a time when only five days of water release has been allowed for the current cycle, which the farmers argue is insufficient due to the lack of recent rainfall and subsequent dry conditions. They expressed significant concerns over the dying coconut trees and the overall drought affecting their crops. The farmers raised slogans and emphasized the dire need for additional water to ensure all fields, including those at the tail end of the canal, receive adequate irrigation. Despite their ongoing protests, official responses have been lacking, adding to the farmers' grievances.