More than 500 farmers from 25 villages, who rely on water from the Wallajah Lake for irrigation, carried out a road blockade in Cuddalore on Thursday condemning supply of water from the lake to Chennai Metro water, reported The New Indian Express

The protest was organised by the Wallajah Lake Farmers Welfare Association. The roads on both sides of the Chennai-Kumbakonam Road were blocked for one-and-a-half hours.

The farmers were from different regions, Karaimedu, Uluthur, Thalaikulam, Maruthur, Jayankondam, Yelaikudi, Aadur Agaram and many other villages. The association president Ramanujam told TNIE that Neyveli mines and villages in this area use the Wallajah lake water for drinking and agricultural purposes.

He added that Veeranam lake also has gone dry and Chennai Metro Water is taking water from Wallajah lake, this will adversely affect the farmers in the area.

The farmers said that already water from Veeranam lake was being used by Chennai Metro Water and if they allow water from Wallajah lake also to be used by the Chennai Metro Water then farmers will not have any water for irrigations work.

Bhuvanagiri tehsildar, Rani and Neyveli DSP Venkatesan spoke with the protesters and they promised to speak to the collector about the issue. They promised that a decision to stop taking water from Wallajah lake will be taken.

However, PWD officials from Cuddalore said that only the surplus water was taken from the lake by Chennai Metro Water.