Sat Jul 05 13:09:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Thanjavur Farmers Protest Water Diversion, Demand Relief from Shortages**
*Thanjavur, India – July 5, 2025* – Farmers in the Thanjavur-Tiruchi district are protesting the excessive release of water into the Kollidam River, arguing that the “surplus” could alleviate severe water shortages in their region. On Saturday, farmers staged a demonstration at the dried-up Miniyan Lake near Sengipatti, demanding that approximately 50,000 cusecs of water, currently flowing into the Kollidam from Mukkombu, be diverted to the Kattalaimettu Kalvai and Uyyakondan Extension Canal.
Led by progressive farmer V. Jeevakumar, protestors emphasized that redirecting this water from the Mayanur barrage would replenish over 80 medium and small lakes in the Sengipatti area, a region struggling with water scarcity that has impacted livestock. Farmers are also reiterating a long-standing request for the creation of new canals to connect their area to the Grand Anicut Canal, which passes through the Budalur block. The farmers depend on the ‘Kattalimettu Kalvai’ and the ‘Uyyakondan Neetippu Kalvai’ for irrigation,
The demonstration highlights the ongoing challenges of water management and distribution in the region.
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