Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam on Tuesday urged the State Government to waive agricultural loans and pursue Pandiyar-Punnapuzha Scheme in right earnest for solving the water needs in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode and Karur districts.
At a discussion here chaired by the Sangam’s State president K. Venkatachalam, a resolution was adopted seeking waiver of agricultural loans, tractor loan, loan for digging wells and installing drip irrigation system. He said the support of the farmers to political parties hinges on their seriousness in implementing loan waiver.
Mr. Venkatachalam urged the Central Government to nationalise all rivers and to link the peninsular rivers to start with.
Procurement price
The meeting called for increase in procurement price at the rate of Rs. 4,000 per tonne for sugarcane, Rs. 3,000 per quintal of paddy, Rs. 20,000 per quintal of turmeric, Rs. 15,000 per tonne of tapioca, and Rs. 150 per kg for copra.
Likewise, cow milk must be procured for Rs. 40 per litre and buffalo milk for Rs. 50 a litre. The entire milk must be procured by the government and the insurance cover for cattle must be provided through the Animal Husbandry Department.
The meeting also urged the Government to prevail upon private sugar mills to follow the practices of co-operative mills in making payments to farmers.
The Government must permit killing of wild boars to protect crops, the farmers emphasised and sought adequate compensation for crop damage.
Wherever possible, check dams must be constructed in water bodies, and all tanks and ponds must be de-silted. The government must ensure implementation of the Cauvery tribunal award and take steps for increase in water level in Mullaiperiyar Dam to 152 feet, Mr. Venkatachalam said. Their other demands included immediate halt to GAIL pipeline project, subsidy for construction of houses by farmers, pension of Rs. 5,000 per month for agricultural labourers over 60 years of age and takeover of sand and granite quarries by the government to prevent damage to water sources.
