Farmers petitioned the district collector expressing concern about the attempt to revive Noyyal river by an NGO. The farmers fear that the alleged revival by corporates and NGOs would put restrictions on the farming community who were traditionally utilising the river water.
"Our main concern is that reviving a river is the government's job. Entrusting it to an NGO and corporates who did not conduct a survey or research on the river was dangerous," said S Palanisamy, president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (Coimbatore district committee).
In their petition they said that it was the farmers who used the river water the most and the river was their necessity. "Such a big function is organized but we were neither informed nor were our suggestions were asked," said Palanisamy. He could not meet the district collector on Tuesday and said his appointment was rescheduled to Wednesday.
He also said that the government should form an inspection committee with representation from farmers. A review should be conducted on their work and the participation of government and the NGOs/corporates. "The funding and project should be monitored by the government," he said in his petition. tnnHe also added that as per the Tamil Nadu Farmers Irrigation Project Management Act 2001, farmers were given rights to maintain, manage and administer the water usage of rivers. "We should be involved and not corporates," he said.
The farmers also wanted a detailed study to be carried out on the river to find out where the pollutants, garbage and sewage were coming from and to find out who the encroachers were. "There are several encroachments on the river bank. Rather than de-silting the river, action should be initiated to remove the encroachments," said a farmer.
"Our main concern is that reviving a river is the government's job. Entrusting it to an NGO and corporates who did not conduct a survey or research on the river was dangerous," said S Palanisamy, president of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam (Coimbatore district committee).
In their petition they said that it was the farmers who used the river water the most and the river was their necessity. "Such a big function is organized but we were neither informed nor were our suggestions were asked," said Palanisamy. He could not meet the district collector on Tuesday and said his appointment was rescheduled to Wednesday.
He also said that the government should form an inspection committee with representation from farmers. A review should be conducted on their work and the participation of government and the NGOs/corporates. "The funding and project should be monitored by the government," he said in his petition. tnnHe also added that as per the Tamil Nadu Farmers Irrigation Project Management Act 2001, farmers were given rights to maintain, manage and administer the water usage of rivers. "We should be involved and not corporates," he said.
The farmers also wanted a detailed study to be carried out on the river to find out where the pollutants, garbage and sewage were coming from and to find out who the encroachers were. "There are several encroachments on the river bank. Rather than de-silting the river, action should be initiated to remove the encroachments," said a farmer.