TAD NewsDesk, Tamil Nadu: Farmers in Erode district has decided to stage a range of protests against the Union government’s plan to concretize the base of Bhavanisagar dam canals. They asserted that this would have a serious consequence on the groundwater level in the following area.
The farmers are planning to boycott the upcoming state assembly election if both the central and state governments didn’t dismantle the project.
The decision was announced by the members of Keel Bhavani Pasana Pathukappu Iyakkam, which convened a meeting at Thalavumalai village near Gobichettipalayam.
Shanmuga Sundaram, one of its members commented
“Farmers who are dependent on the canals are completely against the project.”
Farmers in Erode, Karur and Tirupur districts benefit from Bhavanisagar dam water. They even use it for drinking purposes.
The estimated cost of concretizing the canal is 178 crores.
The farmers are concerned that this would affect at least 1lakh acre of land which benefits from the canal water.
Appu Kutty, a farmer raised his concern
“The land will become barren when they concretize the canal base. Crops like turmeric and coconut trees will also get damaged, as the groundwater would deplete.”
The farmers warned of a series of protests if the governments didn’t roll back the project. “We will not allow officials to start civil works,” the farmers said.
At a time when Assembly elections are coming up, this decision of farmers could have a serious consequence in the politics of the state. Moreover, a lot of farmers are unsatisfied with the decision of the government to take this step.
Source: Times of India
