Tiruchy farmers urges Collector to clear encroachments from canals

TIRUCHY: Farmers from Tiruchy approached the District Collector on Monday appealing to remove the encroachments by individuals along the Palaiyur lake and assure water flow for irrigation of lands across six revenue villages. According to the farmers, a 120 acre vast lake at Palaiyur in Manachanallur area has been irrigating over several thousands of acres of land at around six villages in the region and the villagers initiated steps to revive the lake last year. However, in recent days, the irrigation channel from the lake to the Upparu canal has been encroached near Varadharajapuram by several individuals and this prevented the free flow of water. They urged the Collector to clear the encroachments along the water passage and ensure water for irrigation for the six villages. Similarly, a group of farmers belonging to Vivasaya Munnedra Kazhagam led by its state general secretary K Balasubramanian submitted a petition with the Tiruchy Collector appealing not to restrict removing the savudu, vandal and silt from the water bodies. Collector M Pradeep Kumar who received the petitions assured to forward it to the offices concerned.