In the past few months, continuous rainfall in the region has caused water to flow from the Western Ghats into the Asuvama river, eventually reaching the Nalluthevampatti irrigation pond near Usilampatti in Madurai district. The water from this pond flows sequentially into other ponds like Guruvilampatti and Vagarani.
However, the villagers noticed that some unidentified individuals were allegedly diverting water from the Nalluthevampatti pond to the Puthur pond by breaking the canals along the way. This practice, they claimed, was disturbing the proper flow of water to other ponds, and the villagers were concerned about the misuse of this valuable resource.
In response, residents of Vagarani and Guruvilampatti staged an impromptu road blockade near Nalluthevampatti to protest against the diversion of water and to demand proper management of the water distribution. They also called for strict action to be taken against those responsible for breaking the canals.
The Usilampatti police quickly arrived at the scene and engaged in talks with the protesters. They assured the public that appropriate measures would be taken in consultation with the Public Works Department to ensure the proper distribution of water to all the ponds. After this assurance, the blockade was lifted.
The protest caused a significant disruption on the main road connecting Usilampatti to Rajapalayam and Tirunelveli, with traffic being delayed for approximately an hour.
The villagers' concerns highlight the importance of managing water resources effectively, especially in times of heavy rainfall, to ensure that water reaches all the intended locations without interference.
