Farmers stage Dharna at Agricultural Grievance Meeting

 Erode August 31:
In the Farmers Grievance Redressal Meeting held today at Erode District Collectorate, members of the Kalingarayan  Irrigation Canal Farmers Association staged a dharna by squatting on the floor of the meeting hall. Heading the stir, the association president PK Sethuraj said paddy procurement centers should be set up in the audacity. 

Government has allocated Rs 80 crore for the repair of irrigation canal but the work is not being done properly. In about 1200 acres of the irrigation land, many dug soil for brick kilns to earn huge profit as against government norms. If this situation continues,  the ayacut will disappear in near future.

The collector attends the water release function in the Tadapalli- Arakankottai  and Lower Bhavani irrigation canals. But, he did not participate in the Kalingarayan canal water release function.  Even though many petitions were given on the issues, no action was taken.

So, the ryots staged the dharna. After the officials assured to do the needful, they withdrew the stir.  TN small and marginal farmers association president KR Sudantirarasu said that HT  tower lines were erected on agricultural lands in Modakurichi talk and for which due compensation fixed by the government has not been paid to many farmers.

A subsidy of Rs 40,000 per acre has been fixed under drip irrigation scheme and it was also not given now. It should be increased to Rs 1 lakh per acre. The distribution of pattas for Natham lands has been suspended. It should be issued immediately. GST on milk byproducts and grosgrains should be withdrawn.

Sugarcane cutting charge and lorry rents have increased several times. So, the government should hike the cane procurement price to Rs 4000 per ton, he pleaded.