Farmers petitioned at the Thoothukudi district collectorate on Monday, urging the release of water from Papanasam dam to save banana and other crops cultivated in the Srivaikuntam region.

Following the completion of election procedures and withdrawal of Model Code of Conduct, the weekly public grievance redressal meeting resumed in Thoothukudi district collectorate. The meeting was chaired by Thoothukudi District Collector Vishu Mahajan.

In a petition submitted by All India Kisan Sabha’s (AIKS) Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association stated that irrigation tanks at villages including Peikulam, Kulayankarisal, Pottalkulam and Korampallam, which falls under “vadakaal” irrigation system of Srivaikuntam had dried up.

Due to inadequate water for irrigation thousands of acres of banana are withering and cattle and goats in the region are also suffering with insufficient drinking water.

The petition further stated that although water level in the dam had been low in recent months, recent rainfall in the western ghats has now increased the water level in Papanasam dam.

Farmers requested the Collector to intervene and arrange for the release of 1,000 cusecs of water from the Papanasam dam into the Srivaikuntam “vadakaal” irrigation system to save the crops and to provide relief to livestock.

Puviraj, district secretary, said that around 6,000 acres of banana in the “vadakaal” irrigation system are withering without water, noting that water released during March month had reached only up to certain point and the remaining areas are suffering with water shortage for agriculture.

In another petition, BJP cadre R. Kasilingam from Toovipuram stated that the Tasmac liquor outlet located near the Chidambaranagar bus stop had been causing severe inconvenience to women, children and elderly citizens.

He stated that this was the sixth petition submitted regarding the issue, urging the authorities to immediately shut down the Tasmac outlet.