This e-mail originated from outside of Times Of India And TimesGroup. Exercise caution before you click on any link or open attachments.Public urge action to remove waterway encroachmentNamakkal: The public appealed for appropriate action against those who encroached on a waterway near Senthamangalam in Namakkal district, saying it made farming impossible, and sought removal of the encroachment.Farmers cultivated paddy, sugarcane and banana on about 1,000 acres in Rasakaundanpudur, next to Senthamangalam.Rainwater that fell from Nainamalai during the monsoon season travelled 2.5 km through the Muniyappan Temple at the foothills and reached the Thuthikulam pond. Farmers used this water as a groundwater source and for planting.In this situation, it was said that some locals occupied the 32-foot stream that went from Muniyappan Temple to Thuthikulam for 10 years along with their fertile lands. “Due to this, the path leading to the stream shrunk from 32 feet to 5 feet,” said V Arun, a local villager. He added that as a result, rainwater coming from Nainamalai could not reach the pond during the rainy season.Despite being affected, farmers said no action was taken even after they complained several times to govt officials, including the District Collector Durga Moorthi. Farmers claimed the encroachers were verbally abusive and tried to attack them for complaining about the encroachment, and urged the district administration to immediately take appropriate action and remove the encroachments along the waterway.(Photos: S Parthiban)
