The Madurai Bench of Madras High CourtThursday directed the PWD Secretary to pass appropriate orders onthe request for release of water in Palar Pourundalar river,taking into consideration the interest of farmers of the riverayacut, as expeditiously as possible.
A Division Bench of Justice M.Jayachandran and JusticeS.Nagamuthu gave the direction, admitting a PIL filed byPourandalaru Anaicut Rajavaikal Pasana Vivasayigal sangam,challenging the G.O on release of water for the left maincanal which was new.
The petitioners said they were old ayacutdars and theirrequest to draw water had not been taken into consideration byPWD department. They had raised crops in 5000 acres in AyanKalayamputhur in Palani block in Dindigul district.
They also said Sangam members had been urging PWDofficials to release water to the standing crops which werepermitted from September 15 to January 31.But till today nowater had been released in Palar and Porundalar sluices anderroneously water had been released in the left main canalwhere only punja (dry crops) lands were located,they claimed.
Denying the right of water to majority of old ayacutdarswas discriminatory in nature.PWD by choosing the left maincanal alone for water release had deprived water and standingcrops like sugar and paddy were withering,they said.