Farmers in Thoothukudi want water released for Advance Kar by April 1st

The district government has been petitioned to provide water from the Manimutharu and Papanasam dams for the paddy crops grown in the advance kar season (which happens throughout summer) by the farmers of Chinnamadan Kudiyirupu in Kurippankulam village. The rice farmers, who were dependent on the Sundanparai tank’s water supply, said that the tank had dried up and that the lack of water was causing their crops, which were at the yielding stage, to wither.

Concerned, the farmers asked that the district government take action to salvage their damaged crops by releasing water to the third reach of the Manimutharu dam in the Tirunelveli district. In addition, the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam advised the state to get sufficient approval from the poll commission before releasing water from the dams in preparation for the April 1 start of the advance kar season.

Sangam district secretary Buviraj said in a plea to Collector G Lakshmipathy that the water flow had been impacted earlier because of the state assembly election that took place in March and April of 2021. Water was only delivered after a quarter of a century, thanks to the tireless work of the Sangam and the participation of legislators Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Su Venkatesan with the Chief Election Commissioner. Therefore, by April 1st of this year, the government has to guarantee the proper water flow for advance kar.”