Farmers Block NH Seeking Papanasam Dam Water, Over 100 Held In Thoothukudi
The protest was organised by the All-Farmers’ Associations Federation to press for the release of water from Papanasam dam to the Korampallam and Pettaikulam irrigation tanks, which serve farmers in the tail-end areas of Thoothukudi district.
Thoothukudi: Over 100 farmers were arrested after they blocked the Thoothukudi-Tirunelveli four-lane highway near Thattaparai Vilakku in Thoothukudi district on Friday, demanding release of water from Papanasam dam in Tirunelveli district for irrigation in Thoothukudi district.
The protest was organised by the All-Farmers’ Associations Federation to press for the release of water from Papanasam dam to the Korampallam and Pettaikulam irrigation tanks, which serve farmers in the tail-end areas of Thoothukudi district.
Farmers from more than 10 villages, including Korampallam, Kulaiyan Karisal, Kalangarai, Athimarapatti, Servaikaranmadam and Thangammalpuram, arrived at the protest site in tractors. They parked the tractors across the highway, placed withered banana plants on the carriageway and lay down on the road, disrupting traffic.
The farmers said they had repeatedly petitioned the Thoothukudi district administration and water resources department and staged several protests, but no action had been taken yet. This apathy of the officials, the farmers complained, would destroy the banana crops cultivated in around 5,000 acres in Thoothukudi district, severely affecting their livelihoods.
They demanded that the State government, water resources department and district administration intervene immediately and arrange for the release of 1,500 cusecs of water from Papanasam dam for irrigation in Thoothukudi district. They warned that they would intensify their agitation if the water was not released.
Police led by Rural Assistant Superintendent of Police Anshith Nair were deployed at the protest site. More than 100 protesting farmers were arrested and taken to a private marriage hall.
A farmer fainted during the protest. The blockade affected traffic on the highway for around 30 minutes.
Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi condemned the arrests of the farmers in a post on her X page. She said the farmers had been forced to take to the streets after repeated petitions and protests failed to prompt action from the district administration and water resources department. She said around 5,000 acres of banana crops, dependent on Tamiraparani irrigation in Thoothukudi district, were deprived of water and urged the authorities to take immediate action for the release of water demanded by the farmers to protect their livelihood.