Ryots allege DMK leader blocks LBP canal modernisation plan

DMK environment wing state president Karthikeya Sivasenapathy blocked the Rs 710 cr  government project of  modernising Lower Bavani Project (LBP) main canal by inciting a section of farmers in the LBP ayacut, charged ryots association leaders. 

After submitting a petition to the DRO Santhoshini Chandra at the Erode  Collectorate on Thursday, in this regard, the LBP ayacut land owners association functionaries S Periyasamy and KV Ponnaiyan told newsmen the late CM Karunanidhi constituted an expert panel to renovate the canal which were not properly maintained since it was dug in 1950s and allocated fund for its modernisation. But due to the opposition of a few persons, the project was stopped. 

The previous rule okayed Rs 710 cr project and Water Resource Minister Duraimurugan promised to carry out the project in the Assembly itself. Then, in a case filed by contractors in the HC, the government assured to give police protection to them to carry out the works. Despite, the DMK leader opposed the project by heading a group of ryots. 

On the other, local minister S Muthusamy spoke to them in the name of bringing consensus between supporting and opposing ryots of the project. Last year 2 major breaches near Vavikadai and this year another major breach near Sathy were occurred in the canal, affecting water supply to ryots for many days. 
It caused huge loss to them. The repair works in the canal was also not satisfactory. 

The bunds of the canal was also much weak in many areas. So, the canal would damage at any time. But, without taking any step to carry out the project, the minister spoke on talking with both parties to bring compromise. We are not for compromise. 

Our stand is that the project should be carried out as assured by Duraimurugan and the government in the Court. So, the CM should take action on Karthigeya Sivasenapathy and clarify his position on implementing the project. We also plan to file contempt petition in the HC for not carrying out the project as assured in the court by the government, they said.