Farmers demand elections for Lower Bhavani irrigation committees

Farmers have urged that elections be held immediately for the Lower Bhavani irrigation committees.
The Erode district-level agricultural grievance redressal meeting was held on Friday at the Collector’s office, chaired by Collector S. Kandasamy. In the meeting,
Tamil Nadu Small and Marginal Farmers Association State President Sudhanthirarasu said: We thank the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ordering the issuance of pattas for the agricultural lands that had been devalued.
The date for releasing water for dryland irrigation in the Lower Bhavani canal in January should be announced. Weeds should be removed from the canal areas and proper maintenance work should be carried out. Elections have not been held for many years for the 46 irrigation committees under the LBP irrigation system. Therefore, elections should be conducted immediately to regularize the irrigation committee associations.
The number of turmeric harvesting machines should be increased in areas including Sivagiri and Arachaloor in the Lower Bhavani irrigation areas.
Appropriate action should be taken to ensure uninterrupted three-phase electricity supply to farmers in the Kadambur hilly region.
Encroachments in the Lower Bhavani branch canal areas should be removed. The government’s announcement that electricity connections will now be provided to farmers under the Tatkal scheme is welcome.
However, given the existing shortage of personnel in the electricity board, which prevents proper maintenance work, providing more new connections will create further problems. Therefore, the necessary personnel should be appointed.
Dumping of meat waste in water bodies, including canals, should be prevented.
Officials said that in the first phase, 60 sluice gates in the Thadappalli canal will be renovated soon. Water will be released for the Kalingarayan irrigation system until March 31.
After that, the work of laying a concrete base in the canal will be undertaken. They stated that action has been taken against 55 factories so far this year for discharging dye effluents.
Speaking at the meeting, the District Collector said that officials should take immediate action to prevent farmers from having to repeatedly submit petitions. He added that action should be taken promptly on the petitions submitted at this meeting, and a response should be provided to the farmers.