LBP canal modernization work to begin on May 15

Members of Kizhbavani (LBP)  farmers' associations withdrew their picketing stir in the PWD office at Erode following Housing Minister S  Muthusamy and information Minister MP Saminathan assured that the LBP canal  modernization work would commence on May 15.

Various agricultural associations of the ayacut ryots  besieged the PWD office on Monday morning to press implementation of Rs 710 cr Kizhbavani Irrigation Canal modernization project, pending for the past 13 years due to the opposition of some non ayacut ryots.  

As breaches were occurred in earthen bunds of the canal in many places and many bridges, culverts,  and sluizes were in poor condition, affecting water supply to tail end areas, the ayacut ryots wanted renovation works . During the previous DMK rule itself, Mohanakrisnan committees recommended the project and the subsequent Jayalalithaa rule envisaged  Rs1200 cr concretisation plan in the canal. Due to the opposition of some non ayacut ryots who use the seepage water of the canal for irrigation  the project was dropped. Then, her successor CM EPS made some changes in the plan and allotted Rs 710 cr for it.  

The present DMK rule tried to carry out the plan.  But, again, some ryots associations opposed it with getting the support of DMK environment wing state president Karthikeya Sivasenapathy. 

Hence, the ayacutdars started the stir in the PWD office. Co-ordinators of the farmers associations Periyasamy, Subbu and KV Ponnaiyan, said that the Ministers announced the works would begin on May 15 and the PWD Executive Engineer Kannan nformed that 55 km stretch of the canal in 135 places on both sides would be concertised and damaged bridges, culverts, etc would be reconstituted. 

So they withdrew the stir.  But,  as planned  they would hold LBP protection conference at Sivagiri next month to press  concretisation the entire 200 km length of the main canal on both sides, they added.