P.BALASUBRAMANIAN Vs. CHIEF SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the Learned Counsel for the Petitioner and the Learned Government Advocate for the Respondents 1 to 5. In respect of Respondent No.6, Court Notice was served as early as on 20.06.2017, however, today, there is no appearance on his behalf either in-person or through Learned Counsel.

(2.) The Petitioner claims to be an agriculturist and depends upon agriculture for his livelihood. According to him, canals are the major source of irrigation in Tamilnadu. As the system tanks derives supply from a permanent storage like reservoirs, dams etc., the area irrigated by the source is classified under 'Canals'. Indeed, the area irrigated by the canal is highest in Tiruvarur District followed by Thanjavur District and Nagapattinam District of the total net area irrigated by the canals in the State. In fact, Tiruvarur District is 100% dependent District on canal irrigation, as per the season and crop report issued by the Department of Economics and Statistics of the Government of Tamilnadu.

(3.) The Petitioner has come out with an averment in the Writ Petition that enormous villages such as Muganthanur, Velangudi, Narikarambai, Mathalangudi, Annavasal, Kumaramangalam are benefited through the Naraikarambai-Mathalangudi irrigation canal branched from the Nattavaikkal near the Manmadhan Temple in the Velangudi Bazaar Road. The said canal caters to the needs of 75 acres of agricultural lands of Velangudi - Kumaramangalam villages and another 75 acres of agricultural lands of Narikarambai, Annavasal and Mathalangudi villages aggregating to 150 acres. As a matter of fact, the said canal is the only source of livelihood of the farmers and people of these villages.