CHENNAI: They lost their paddy crop last year due to the severe drought. This year, say the farmers, they will lose crops because of rain. If it was nature that did them in last year, it is sheer callousness of officials that has about 1,000 farmers of Edur and Gumbli villages near Gummidipoondi worried. The 400 acres of rainfed farmlands in the area are dependent on one canal for drainage, which has not been desilted for over 20 years, alleged villagers. The result of neglect is evident on the 10-km long canal, which was constructed in the 1950s to take water to Edur anicut, now home to bushes and even trees along its course.
“This time, we were happy that it had rained. But even with moderate showers, our fields were flooded because the water spilled over from the canal and flooded the fields,” said Arul T, a farmer in Edur, whose seven-acre paddy field was flooded. He lost Rs 10,000.
As the water in borewells here turn saline at a depth of around 40 ft, the area is entirely dependent on rain for cultivation. “We have been submitting petitions for over 20 years. The canal that must be 10 feet deep is just three feet,” said Chandran R, a farmer for over 35 years.
For now, villagers have resorted to sand bags to keep the water from spilling over, but they know only too well that it won’t last long. “We sought permission to pool in our own funds and desilt the canal but we have been denied permission because they suspect we might illegally mine the sand,” said R Panneerselvam, another farmer.
Although there is a water body, Edur Eri, in the neighbourhood, the lake has also suffered a similar fate, with the inlet canal that carries surplus water from Manalur eri not desilted. “Usually, with the amount of rain that we received recently, the lake should have at least been half-full. Now, because neither the inlet canal nor the lake has been desilted, all the water spills over to the fields,” said Arul. “A week ago, there was waist-deep water.”
Farmlands in the area are dotted with abandoned seedling bundles rendered unusable because they have been exposed to too much water. “During cultivation, one must ensure that the seedlings are exposed only to a certain level of water. But since the fields were flooded, most of the seedlings are unusable and some were washed away,” said Chandran.
Now, farmers have sown a second batch, hoping for just the right amount of rain. “There is a lot at stake; if we lose this batch too, it is going to be difficult to recover. But it’s better than doing nothing,” said Arul.
When contacted, a PWD officials said desilting of the canal has been integrated into the ‘IAMWARM -II’ project. “The project is funded by the World Bank and only after the funds are sanctioned, work can be taken up,” he said.