The grievance meeting held here on Friday saw farmer after farmer charging the officials of apathy and demanding the Collector’s direct intervention, which alone they said would solve their long pending demands.
The grievance meeting held here on Friday saw farmer after farmer charging the officials of apathy and demanding the Collector’s direct intervention, which alone they said would solve their long pending demands.
A farmer said, “last week, I boarded a bus from Dindigul to Madurai. When I purchased a ticket to Samayanallur, the conductor issued ticket up to Madurai…Despite repeated pleas; the conductor insisted that he would not issue ticket to Samayanallur.”
Another farmer said, “A fortnight ago, I wanted to board a bus at Valandur, but the driver did not stop. When the information was passed on to the TNSTC authorities, they have not taken any action.”
Yet another farmer had this to say: Since 2009, we have been asking the TNSTC to ply buses to Sanipatti village near Kottampatti, but the officials attributed some reason or the other and kept postponing the operation. When private buses operated, what prevents the government from doing so, he asked.
The TNSTC authorities, who were present, said that they had instructed the bus crew to stop at places like Valandur.
Collector Anshul Mishra, who presided over the meeting, intervened and said: Despite clear instructions, if the crew did not take the orders, initiate firm action against them.
Public interest is important, he underlined and wanted the Corporation to examine the possibilities of opening a toll-free number, where in commuters could lodge their complaints. The buses, if they are categorised as express or point to point, it is understandable, but the interest of commuters residing in rural pockets should be taken into consideration and after studying the requirement, ordinary buses could be plied, he suggested.
Slabs missing
Rajamanickam, a progressive farmer, said that to facilitate the irrigation activities for the first crop, the combined water credit had to touch 4,000 mcft in the reservoir. Prior to commencement, the PWD authorities may be directed to carry out repair works on the Vaigai Dam main canal as many slabs were missing on the stretches. Similarly, the list of encroachments to be evicted in the tanks and those to be desilted were available with the authorities.
By completing the works, the water flow would be even and it would enable the ryots to cultivate crop successfully in all the 45,000 acres, he added.
Many other farmers joined him and urged the TANGEDCO authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply. While there is seven hour electricity supplied now, the farmers expected it to touch 10 hours per day. Due to rise in water table, the farmers had to compulsorily replace small motor pumps with bigger horse-power ones. Hence, they wanted the electricity board officials to help in making both ends meet during this season.
Vadivel, a farmer, said that he had difficulty in obtaining “uzhavar card”. “I have my agriculture land in Thumbaipatti village, but residing in Madurai. Citing this as an excuse, the officials are not issuing the card for the last couple of years,” he said. Similar grievance came in from farmers in Thiruparankundram. The Collector assured to look into these issues.
District Revenue Officer R. P. Raveendran, Joint Director P. Sankaralingam, PA to Collector (Agriculture) Jayasingh Gnanadurai and other officials from various departments participated in the meeting.
