Covering their face with a green towel hood to vent their anger against the neglect of Cauvery delta by the inter-ministerial Central team during field assessment of the recent rains and floods, farmers demanded during the grievances day meet here on Friday that the losses and sufferings of delta farmers needed to be counted and compensated fairly.
Raising the issue soon after the session commenced, district president of the Tamilaga Vivasyigal Sangam Kakkarai R. Sukumaran and his colleagues trooped to meet District Collector N. Subbaiyan sporting the hood. They alleged that the officials had shown scant regard for field suffering and had enumerated the affected areas without any rhyme or reason.
They alleged that the Central flood damage assessment team had neglected Cauvery delta districts and the State government must highlight the plight of delta farmers.
Dr. Subbaiyan said the damage assessment had only commenced at present and it was not finalised yet. Also, with more rains forecast, the full picture would arise only later. No affected area or field would be left unaccounted, he assured the agitating farmers to no avail as they continued their protests. The farmers condemned the Agriculture Department official’s contention that only 5.5 hectares of paddy field had been affected in Thanjavur district in the recent rains. “This has come as a rude jolt to samba paddy growers as crop at the crucial panickle initiation stage on over thousands of acres have been inundated and waterlogging might prove dangerous to the crops,” the protesters alleged.
Mr. Sukumaran demanded Rs. 25,000 an acre for affected fields, waiver of all farm credit, and dropping all distraint proceedings against defaulters as well. Forcefully putting forward their demands, the farmers staged a walk out too.
Probe sought
Thanjavur District Cauvery Farmers Protection Association secretary Swamimalai S. Vimalnathan wanted a CB CID inquiry to bring to book all those involved in the multi-crore scam that was rocking Arignar Anna Sugar Mills, Kurungulam, near here. Dr. Subbaiyan said following the preliminary investigation, six employees who had indulged in malpractice had been placed under suspension while a full probe would reveal more. Action would be taken against all offenders.
