The Lower Bhavani Farmers Association claimed that the yagam conducted by Public Works Department at Bhavanisagar dam seeking divine intervention to bring rain was primarily a tactic to divert the attention of the people from the ineffective water management practices that took place in the dam this year.

The authorities in the district had let out a large amount of water to the old ayacuts of Bhavani river violating the government orders and without considering the requirements of the farmers in LBP ayacut, association president S. Nallasamy told media persons on Monday.

All seven functioning quarries ordered to be closed in Karur district

Sand quarries in the river Cauvery that are more than five years old have remained shut since Saturday following the Madras High Court directive. Through Friday night, vehicles awaiting their turn to load sand were hurriedly cleared and excavators at the quarries withdrawn on orders from PWD officials. Field officials visited the quarries on Saturday and erected road blocks and dug trenches across the entrance to prevent truck movement.

The Government which had planned measures to conserve water bodies and rivers was said to be actively considering the proposal.

A proposal submitted by Siruthuli for restoration of Noyyal river, its canals and tanks are under active consideration of the Government, official sources said. Chairman of Siruthuli S.V. Balasubramanian and Project Co-ordinator K. Mayilsamy submitted a proposal to the Minister for Public Works Department K.V. Ramalingam.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has caught four illegal dyeing units during raids carried out along the banks of River Noyyal on Thursday evening and Friday. Official sources said the units, located in the hinterlands of Tirupur, were found dyeing the yarns and discharging the effluents generated in the process to drains that lead to River Noyyal.