Kalingarayan farmers approach High Court seeking release of water

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The Kalingarayan Mathagu Pasana Vivasayigal Sabai No. 4 has approached the Madras High Court seeking the immediate release of water into the Kalingarayan Canal in Erode in Tamil Nadu. | Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.

The Kalingarayan Mathagu Pasana Vivasayigal Sabai No. 4 has approached the Madras High Court seeking the immediate release of water into the Kalingarayan Canal to protect standing crops and safeguard the irrigation rights of farmers dependent on the canal.

The association’s president, S. Palanikkumar, has filed the petition, seeking directions to the authorities to release water into the canal, where crops are facing the threat of damage owing to inadequate water supply.

According to the association, the Kalingarayan Canal directly irrigates 15,743 acres and indirectly serves several thousand more acres. Under a 1966 government order, water is to be supplied continuously for 320 days every year, from June 16 to April 30. The association alleged that water was not released into the canal on June 16 this year, citing construction work being undertaken on a section of the canal. Though a proposal was subsequently made to release water for 135 days for the first crop season from June 28, the release did not take place, it said.

Water was released for 15 days, from July 14 to 28, under a special irrigation order. However, the limited supply did not reach tail-end areas up to Chittarullapalayam, leaving farmers there with little benefit, the association alleged.

It further alleged that water from the Bhavanisagar reservoir was released into the Thadapalli, Arakkankottai and Lower Bhavani irrigation systems, while the Kalingarayan Canal did not receive an adequate supply. The association said farmers had repeatedly appealed to officials, including senior Water Resources Department officials, seeking the release of water through the canal.

It also alleged that farmers had suffered financial losses and crop damage after water supply to the canal was stopped before the scheduled end of the irrigation season last year.

The association has urged the court to direct the authorities to release water into the Kalingarayan Canal immediately to protect standing crops.

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