Minister calls agitating Kizhbavani farmers for talks

Housing Minister S Muthusamy has called the farmers who are on hunger strike protesting against the modernization of Kizbavani main canal for talks.
Planting saplings on highways at Thindal on Saturday, he said that 5 lakh saplings are being planted in Tamil Nadu on behalf of the highway department on the occasion of the Kalaignar's centenary and 12,000 trees are being planted in Erode district. 
According to the court order and GO, the work of repairing the damaged parts of Kizbavani main canal has started. 
 

But the farmers are divided into two groups-supporters and opponents of the project.
The protestors have been fasting for the last four days. Negotiations were held several times with the groups. 
They were promised that only the weak areas of the old constructions will be renovated. 
We have explained the plan to them many times and once again I am ready to give my signed commitment that  cement concrete would not be laid on the surface of the canal and banks. 
I invite them for talks onceagain and  stop their fast.  Under the Athikadavu Avinasi scheme, pipe lines were laid to fill 1450 ponds and tanks with Bavani river. 
 

But the pipes are breaking at some places, but the work will complete soon  and the CM will inaugurate it. 
A new central bus stand at Erode Solar will soon be opened.Similarly, Collector is taking steps to acquire land to bring another central bus stand at Gani Rautharkulam, Erode, he said.