Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Farmers condemn delay in giving power supply

MADURAI: Members of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam would stage a protest in front of the offices of Superintending Engineers of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board in the State condemning an “inordinate” delay in providing electricity supply to farmers.

Talking to reporters here on Tuesday on the concluding day of a two-day State committee meeting of the association, its State general secretary P. Shanmugam said that six lakh farmers had been waiting for almost 20 years seeking electricity supply. “While the Government is citing poor power situation for not giving power supply to farmers, it has been signing memoranda of understanding with private industrialists promising uninterrupted power supply,” he said.

On the proposal of free distribution of electric motor pumps to farmers, the association wanted the Government to ensure the quality of the pumps. Besides, small and marginal farmers must get priority under the scheme. The association wanted the Government to extend the deadline for providing house site pattas to those living in Government poromboke land since 20 lakh more people were waiting for the pattas. Unless the Government relaxed the norms and permitted provision of pattas for those living on defunct water bodies, temple land and objectionable land, all those living on poromboke land cannot be given land.

Another resolution sought a ban on conversion of farm lands for other activities to ensure sufficient food production. Mr. Shanmugam said that over 12,000 acres of land had been acquired in the past for special economic zones. Similarly, an unbridled growth of real estate business had rendered around 10 lakh acres of land uncultivable in the recent years.

Instead of acquiring fertile land for industrial activities and airport expansion, the Government should make use of fallow land. Increasing the procurement price of sugarcane to Rs. 3,000 a tonne and calling for a tripartite meeting of farmers, sugar mills and government officials were their other demands.

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