Over 150 farmers from the PAP Vellakoil Branch Canal Protection Association submitted their voter IDs at the Kangayam Tahsildar's office, demanding immediate action against water theft and ensuring equitable water distribution.
Tirupur: In a significant demonstration, over 150 farmers from the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) Vellakoil Branch Canal Protection Association gathered at the Kangayam Tahsildar office to submit their voter identification cards in protest.
This unprecedented move highlights the farmers' grievances over prolonged issues of water theft and inadequate distribution, severely affecting their agriculture and livestock needs.
The farmers, who rely on water from the Thirumoorthy Dam traveling through the extensive network to reach their fields, alleged persistent negligence and unauthorized diversion of water intended for irrigation. For several years, this has resulted in severe drought conditions in the areas of Kangayam and Vellakoil, prompting continuous protests and hunger strikes by the community.
The core issue, as reported by the association, stems from the repeated failure to distribute water evenly, compounded by alleged theft along the canal routes. "Our fields and livelihoods are drying up because of certain anti-social elements diverting the water that is supposed to nurture them," stated a representative of the farmers during the protest. They claimed their repeated pleas for intervention had been ignored by authorities, further alleging complicity.
By submitting their voter IDs, the farmers sent a clear signal of their dissatisfaction with the government's response to their critical situation. They warned that if immediate and effective action is not taken to stop water theft and ensure fair distribution, they would abstain from voting in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This dramatic step underscores the desperation and urgency of their plight.
The incident caused a stir in the Tahsildar's office, with officials briefly overwhelmed by the number of protesters and the symbolic act of submitting voter IDs, reflective of their potential withdrawal from the electoral process. The protest ended with the farmers leaving their IDs on Tahsildar Mayilsamy's desk, symbolizing their collective plea for survival and justice. This act has sparked discussions among local authorities and the community about the pressing need for structural solutions to water distribution injustices.