The State Government should provide power connections to two lakh farmers who have been waiting for the last 10 years and ensure uninterrupted power supply for agriculture 14 hours a day, the Tamilaga Eri Matrum Aatrupasana Vivasayigal Sangham, has said.

Passing the above resolutions at a seminar organised at Tiruchi on Saturday, the sangham appealed to the State Government to procure 205 thousand million cubic feet of water from Karnataka for delta irrigation, and pleaded that samba cultivation should be ensured at any cost.

The seminar also sought Rs 1,750 as the procurement price for a quintal of paddy, Rs 3,000 for a tonne of sugarcane, and Rs 75 a kilogramme for cotton.

As kuruvai crop could not be raised, a large number of farmers have suffered heavy losses and the Government should see to it that loans obtained by farmers from nationalised banks and co-operative banks are written off, the meet emphasised. Ssangham President, Viswanathan, who briefed reporters, said in Tiruchi district, all encroachments in the channels and tanks should be removed and water sources should be cleared of silt and their bunds strengthened. To prevent water from Kollidam going waste, barrages across the river should be built, as they would help improve groundwater in the region and prove beneficial to the farming community.

Non-availability of water

Pointing out that more than 3,000 acres at Palinganatham, Channavur, Korathakudi and Anganur village in Thirumanur panchayat union of Ariyalur district could not be brought under cultivation because of non-availability of water, he said a left bank canal should be formed under the Pullampadi Canal Project to benefit these lands. Referring to Visvakudi reservoir scheme, he regretted that the scheme has been delayed due to the change in governments and completion would benefit 3,000 acres in the region, the sources said.

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