With irrigation channels carrying Tamirabharani water to farms getting chocked by loads of debris and waste being dumped indiscriminately by the public, the district administration is mulling over slapping hefty fine on these culprits.
Chairing the farmers’ grievances redress meeting held at the Collectorate here on Friday, Mr. Sukumar, while responding to the concerns raised by a few agriculturists in this regard, said the Tirunelveli, Palayam and Kodgan Channels, all traversing through Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, were being chocked by the public throwing domestic and commercial waste and loads of debris. Consequently, these channels, where rampant growth of water hyacinth and other water weeds hamper the flow of water, are getting chocked further.
Even though the official machinery and the local bodies were making repeated appeals to the public not to dump waste in the irrigation channels and put it only in the bin kept for this purpose, the threat continues.
“Hence, we’re planning to slap hefty fine on those who irresponsibly discard waste into the irrigation channels and seize the vehicles being used for it. Similar punishment should be awarded to people dumping waste in the Tamirabharani also as they show total disregard to our appeals and instructions. While continuing our awareness campaigns on keeping the water bodies and the channels clean, the punishment will also help us save the water bodies and the river,” the Collector said.
When farmer Abraham of Kanarpatti and others complained that the officials were not taking any legal action against the individuals encroaching upon the irrigation channels despite repeated petitions from the agriculturists, the Collector instructed the officials of Water Resources Department, Agriculture and Revenue to inspect such illegal structures and take immediate steps to remove them. “Moreover, cases should be registered against the encroachers,” he said.
When farmers from Radhapuram area complained that the Petchiparai dam surplus water released in Radhapuram channel and the Kodumudiyar dam water in Valliyooran Channel had not reached the target areas due to encroachments, the Collector became furious and came down heavily on the officials. He asked them to remove the encroachments and file complaints at the police stations concerned.
On the complaint from farmer Ilosius that the water bodies in Thuraiyoor and the surroundings were seriously polluted by the uncontrolled discharge of sewage by a few manufacturing units in Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Promotion Centre, the Collector asked the Revenue Divisional Officer, Tirunelveli, to inspect the affected water bodies along with the officials of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and submit a report to him.
When farmer P. Perumbadaiyar said the paddy procurement centres being operated by the Union Government had not paid the money in the farmers’ accounts for the paddy procured, the Collector said ₹3 crore had been paid so far following repeated reminders from the district administration and efforts were on to get the remaining ₹5 crore within a couple of weeks.
