Government Torments the Farmers; Saves Water from Iranaimadu Tank for the Army Camps

Water level in many of the tanks in Kilinochchi has dropped to alarmingly low levels with the prevailing drought.            

 

Paddy cultivation for the yala season undertaken with the help of water from these tanks has affected the paddy plants in many places in the district due to lack of water. Many farmers are pumping water from the small canals to their paddy fields in order to save the plants. The farmers cultivating paddy with the help of water from the Iranaimadu tank are the ones who are very badly affected, because of the drought.

 

 

Usually 32 feet of water is maintained in the Iranaimadu tank. But this time only 28 feet of water is saved.

 

Many agricultural organizations allege that this was the reason for the plants being destroyed this season.

 

These organizations also point out that saving of water from 32 feet to 28 feet was because of the fear that the many army camps surrounding the Iranaimadu camp may be affected due to lack of water.

 

 

But the Irrigation department of the Kilinochchi district entirely refutes the allegation. The department says that the decision to save only 28 feet was taken because the tank was not strong enough to contain 32 feet of water.

 

But the agricultural organization raise the question as to how the tank suddenly became weak, after being strong enough to contain 32 feet of water for the last several seasons.

 

This question incidentally has not been answered still.