Members of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association staging road roko at Pudukkottai junction near Thoothukudi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: N. RAJESH
Members of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association staged a road blockade protest at Pudukottai near Thoothukudi on Friday, demanding the release of water to save withering crops in Srivaikuntam region’s Vadakal irrigation area.Protestors said that due to lack of water in irrigation tanks in the villages, including Peikulam, Kulayankarisal, Athimarapatti and Korampallam under the Srivaikuntam Vadakaal irrigation system, thousands of acres of banana and other crops were reportedly drying up. They added that cattle in the region were also suffering due to acute shortage of drinking water.Demanding the release of water, the members of Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association had submitted a petition to the Thoothukudi District Collector Vishu Mahajan at the weekly grievance redress meeting held on May 11.As no actions were taken regarding the demand the association announced a road blockade protest.The protest was led by Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association’s Thoothukudi District Secretary Puviraj.A large number of farmers from Srivaikuntam’s Vadakaal irrigation region participated in the protest and raised slogans pressing for their demands.Police later detained around 50 protesters who staged blockade by squatting on the road. Published - May 29, 2026 08:54 pm IST
