Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Collector promises to remove encroachments on water bodies

Staff Reporter

Farmers seek compensation for damage of crops in recent rain Farmers seek compensation for damage of crops in recent rain

SEEKING HELP: A farmer from Peddanaickanpalayam shows affected arecanut crop to Collector Dheeraj Kumar at the Grievances Day meeting in Salem on Friday . - Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Collector Dheeraj Kumar promised that the district administration would initiate measures to remove encroachments in water spreads and water carrying channels in the district.

Responding to farmers' queries at their grievances day meeting here on Friday, Mr Kumar said necessary steps would be taken to protect water bodies from encroachers in future.

Earlier the farmers appealed to the district administration to continue its drive against encroachers. Speaking at the meeting, a farmer from Veeranam, Aanai Gounder, said two village tanks in Vedapatti were not receiving water as the water carrying channels were heavily encroached upon. He requested the officials to remove the encroachments on the channels.

Price fluctuation

He also asked the officials not to collect any fee from farmers growing jasmine to enter the V.O.C. market. Owing to the price fluctuation, the farmers were not getting satisfactory price for jasmine and they were finding it difficult to manage the cultivation expenses, he added.

Another farmer V.R. Rajamanickam said the banana crop cultivated in Veeranam area sustained heavy damage in the recent rain, which was accompanied by strong winds, and appealed to the officials to provide compensation to the affected farmers.

Inordinate delay

A few farmers from Peddanaikanpalayam claimed that a large number of arecanut trees in their area were also damaged in the recent rains

S. Govindarajan, a farmer from Ammampalayam, said inordinate delay in issuance of pattas to the farmers in Attur and Gengavalli taluks and sought speedy execution of the computerised patta registration and distribution.

Responding to him, the Collector said the administration would speed up the issue of pattas.

President of the United Farmers Association C. Vaiyapuri welcomed the State Government's efforts to revive the Uzhavar Santhai in the State. Farmers had also thanked the State Government for waiving the co-operative farm loans.

Agriculture officials said the district had received a total rainfall of 1,334.5 mm as against the normal rainfall of 1,034.7 in the year 2005. Officials from various Government departments were present in the meeting.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Collector promises to remove encroachments on water bodies
Doctors' forum warns of agitation
Damaged channel to be cleaned up soon
In Salem Today

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu