COIMBATORE: Over 2,000 farmers from Pollachi, its neighbouring areas and Tirupur laid siege of the office of Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) Engineer on Tuesday, protesting against the release of water from Azhiyar Dam to Kerala, while they (farmers) were facing from water shortage.

As the administration released 450 cusecs of water to Kerala on Monday, farmers in Pollachi, Tirupur, Kangeyam and nearby areas were agitated and decided to stage a protest.
Accordingly over 2,000 assembled and sat in front of the office in the morning raising slogans against the Government and also seeking immediate release of water to the areas for second round of irrigation.

There was an agreement to release 7.25 tmcft water to Kerala annually and already 5.5 tmcft water was released so far and there was time till May to release the remaining quantum of water, the farmers claimed.

“A few farmers and workers of Janata Dal in Kerala staged an agitation seeking release of more water for drinking water five days ago, which resulted in stone throwing at Tamil Nadu vehicles, leading to a loss of Rs.150 crore including vegetables and other produces,” the farmers said.

As Kerala Government started drawing water from Siruvani, to compensate the water from Azhiyar, there was the threat of drinking water shortage to Coimbatore, administration released 450 cusecs of water, which had drawn the ire of farmers in the region.

As part of the protest, the farmers laid siege to the PAP engineers office on Pollachi-Udumalpet Road and sought to release second round of water to the region, police said.

Since no no officials turned, the agitation is continuing.