Farmers urge immediate push for Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar project

Farmers of the Ramanathapuram district during grievance meeting here on Friday appealed to the district administration to implement the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar river interlinking project.

Malaichamy, District Secretary of the South District Farmers Association, along with farmers Pakkiyanathan and Jeeva, requested that steps be taken to implement the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar river interlinking project immediately.

“If funds are allocated for this project in the upcoming budget and it is implemented, the district will flourish in agriculture like the Delta districts,” he added.

M. S. K. Pakkiyanathan, president of the Tamil Nadu Vaigai Farmers Association, said, “Single-crop paddy cultivation is carried out across 1.25 lakh hectares in Ramanathapuram district. Crop loans amounting to ₹250 crore obtained by 80,000 farmers here remain outstanding.”

The government should waive the crop loans entirely without any conditions. Ramanathapuram, a drought-prone district, should not be compared with other districts. The waiver list should also be released, he added.

Madurai Veeran, president of the Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association, stated that invasive seemai karuvelam trees and encroachments in the Vaigai river from Parthibanur to Aatrangarai should be removed.

Making a similar demand, Michael, a farmer from Ponnakkaneri, stated, “In our village tank and various other tanks, native fish species have been destroyed by African catfish.”

He demanded that steps be taken to eradicate African catfish.

Collector M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran replied that measures would be taken through the Fisheries Department to eradicate them.

Cholanthur Balakrishnan, a farmer, stated that all supply channels in the district should be desilted. Another farmer from Nedungulam said, “Clay mud has accumulated to a depth of about 20 feet in the Vaigai dam. If this is removed, additional water can be stored.”

“Soil is currently being dredged for agricultural use from tanks in Ramanathapuram district. Orders should be issued to ensure that approval is obtained from the respective irrigation association presidents for this process,” he added.

A farmer named Malangudi Vijayan requested that the Department of Agriculture arrange for drones to be made available on rent to farmers for spraying pesticides on crops.

In response to the farmers’ requests, the Collector ordered the respective departments to act and directed department officials present at the venue to initiate immediate measures.

During the meeting, an explanation was provided to the farmers regarding the impacts caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon. They were also advised on mitigation measures to lessen the impact of the effect which has been affecting people across the continent.

Ends