Farmers complain about discharge of sewage into irrigation tanks

Farmers complained about the discharge of sewage into irrigation tanks in Madurai district. They urged the authorities concerned to take appropriate action and prevent the discharge of sewage into the tanks, at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting held at the Madurai Collectorate, on Friday.

Madurai Collector Nishant Krishna presided over the meeting. Farmers complained about discharge of sewage in irrigation tanks in Avaniapuram, Achampathu and Sakkimangalam areas.

They urged the authorities to take steps to prevent the discharge of sewage as they were unable to carry out agricultural activities. A section of the farmers also complained about waste being dumped near Pothampatti irrigation tank in Usilampatti.

Farmers said the Periyar extension canals in the Kottampatti and nearby areas need to be desilted and necessary funds should be allocated for the work.

A section of farmers complained that a check dam was being constructed in an improper manner near the Kottampatti area. The height had to be reduced so that water reaches the tail-end areas, they said. The Collector said a meeting would be conducted in this regard.

Farmers from Kallanai who had earlier complained about the indiscriminate stone quarrying taking place in the region, thanked the government for closing the quarries. They said the cremation ground near the stone quarry should be surveyed and handed over to the authorities concerned.