LBP Ayacut Ryots plan to approach HC

Fderation of Lower Bavani Project (LBP) ayacut ryots associations planned to approach HC to press the Centre to carry out LBP canal modernisation project immediately.
○Talking to newsmen here on Monday, the federation coordinators KV Ponnaiyan, Subbu, Thangaraj, 
S Periyasamy  and Er Ramasamy said state government  and the District Administration have shown negligence in the implementation of the Keelpawani Irrigation Canal Modernization Project and have created an environment for the farmers' associations to go to court to implement the project.  

The project was approved during the last DMK and AIADMK rules. When AIADMK member Damodaran brought a call attention motion in the assembly on the issue recently, Ministers Duraimurugan and Muthusamy  promised that the project would be implemented. The ayacut farmers have contributed Rs.10.33 cr for building LBP dam and earthen canal nearly 70 years back. Now,  breakages occur on the bank. Water does not reach the farmers in the tail end ayacut,  affecting  the farmers much. Rich farmers and business houses outside the ayacut are  illegally tapping canal water.

 So  the farmers outside the ayacut area are opposing the project by creating a bogey that the project would cause drinking water shortage in many villages as the modernization would check seepages and ground water level.  Water Resources Principal Secretary Sandeep Saxena clarified the canal  is for agriculture and not a drinking water project. The law suit against the project was also dismissed.  District Minister Muthusamy spoke to non ayacut ryots many times and asked the affected ayacut ryots to be patient.  So, the problem was exacerbated by him. 
The DMK environment wing state president Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, Tirupur and Erode MPs openly opposed the project. So, finally, Muthusamy admitted he was not able to settle the issue  and asked them to resolve the issue by holding talks among themselves. 

He further said hereafter Duraimurugan will deal the dispute.  But, Duraimurugan informed that that there is administration hitches to carry out the project.  It is doubtful whether the ministers,  MPs' and bureaucrats read Mohanakrishnan Committee report and Sandeep Saxena's letter.   So, the sangams, representing the non ayacut ryots, got upper hand in stopping the project.

Cauvery Tribunal already orderered TN to supply.8 TMC water to Kerala.  Currently, 2 TMC water is supplied to Kerala.  If the remaining six TMC  water is supplied to Kerala from the Bavani river, the ayacutdars of 2.07 lakh acres will be severely affected by facing water shortage. So, it is necessary to modernize the canal as a precaution to save water, they said.