Keezhbavani Ayakattu Nila Urimailargal Sangam submitted a petition to the SP seeking permission to start indefinite fast from May 8 to press the government to initiate modernisation work in the LBP main canal as per the GO 276. The sangam functionaries KV Ponnaiyan, and Periyasamy, said the LBP irrigation farmers federation vice president Ramasamy and they will start indefinite fast and dharna from May 8 in front of the WRD Office Erode to press the demand. In its verdict on 31.3.2023 the HC upheld the GO and directed the government to start the modernisation work as per the GO 276 from May 1.
So, some works were started. But the officials and the Housing Minister S Muthusamy held talks with the opponents to the project led by Karthikeya Sivasenapathy and declared the renovation work will be held in old damaged structures only and showed the datas of such work to them only.
But, they didn't show such records to the sangam and invite Ramasamy for talks though he alone filed the case in the HC for implementing the GO.
Besides, the HC rejected the opponents contention against the project totally as they were not coming within the Keezhbavani ayacut.
But, the sangam members were ayacut ryots of the LBP canal and they remitted the cess amount for construction of the dam and the canal in 1950s itself.
So, the ayacut ryots of 2.07 lakh acre alone have the right to press action as per the GO which was issued on the basis of Mohanakrishnan expert committee. So, none, including Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, who is president of Non Resident Tamils Welfare Board, have any right to seek cancellation of the GO or oppose the work.
But unnecessarily the Minister Muthusamy and WRD officials create confusion for the past 2 years without starting the work.
Now they said the work will be held in old damaged structures. Nether the government nor the HC segregated the works in old or new structures in the canal.
We want the government to adhere to the direction of the HC to carry out the works as per the GO and thus uphold the rule of law. Otherwise we approach HC with contempt petition.
As Karthikeya Sivasenapathy incited people against the GO and modernisation work, we seek action against him, they said.