Villagers besiege Sivaganga WRD office over non-implementation of HC order
Villagers in Sivagangai district protested at a Water Resources Department office after officials failed to implement a High Court order to open a blocked canal. The canal is essential for irrigating local farmland, and the protest ended only after officials promised an inspection.
Why it matters
This incident illustrates the challenges of local governance and the difficulty citizens face in enforcing judicial mandates regarding essential infrastructure and water rights.
Villagers besieged the Sivagangai Water Resources Department (WRD) office, condemning the officials for failing to implement the Madras High Court order.
The demonstrators pointed out that WRD officials had ignored judicial instructions mandating the release of water from a blocked canal that feeds the Maranthai tank.
Maranthai, situated near Kalaiyarkovil in the Sivagangai district, is home to more than 150 families. Local agriculture relied heavily on the WRD tank, which provides irrigation to 150 acres of farmland spread across Maranthai, North Maranthai, and Kodikrai.
Consequently, surplus water flows to the Maranthai tank only after the Thalirthalai tank fills up.
Because of this, water did not reach the Maranthai tank. Following this, the people of Maranthai persistently urged the opening of the blocked canal.
Since the WRD officials failed to take action, they filed a case in the Madras High Court.
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