Farmers under the Kalingarayan canal irrigation system sent a representation to the State government in Erode district in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement.
Farmers under the Kalingarayan canal irrigation system have submitted a representation to the State government seeking the immediate release of irrigation water, stating that the standing perennial crops are under severe stress due to the delay in water supply.According to the farmers, a Public Works Department Government Order (G.O. No. 2647), dated November 2, 1966, provides for the release of water through the Kalingarayan Canal every year from June 16 to April 30, a period of ten-and-a-half months. This year, however, water was not released on June 16, with the authorities citing maintenance works being carried out on the canal.The Water Resources Department subsequently released water only for 15 days, from July 14 to July 28, under G.O. No. 377 dated July 13, 2026, as a special irrigation measure. However, the farmers alleged that the water did not reach the tail-end areas of the canal.They said sugarcane, banana and coconut crops raised in the Kalingarayan Canal ayacut were on the verge of withering because of the inadequate water supply. Seeking implementation of the 1966 G.O. and immediate release of water for the current irrigation season, farmers organised a signature campaign from July 30 to August 4 (Tuesday) across the canal command area, from Kalingarayanpalayam to the tail-end villages of Avudaiyarparai and Chitta Pulla Palayam.A total of 25,123 farmers signed the petition, which was sent by registered post to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday (August 5, 2026), urging the government to release water without further delay to save the standing crops. The campaign was coordinated by K. Banuchandar, a farmer and an author. Published - August 05, 2026 07:15 pm IST
