Numerous complaints of encroachments in waterbodies in the district were raised by farmers at the monthly farmers’ grievance day meeting at the Collectorate here on Friday.
Complaining of inaction by Public Works Department (PWD) officials, the farmers said that tanks and feeder channels in parts of Melur were full of encroachments and wanted the officials to install warning boards near waterbodies against setting up shops or other establishments on the tank bed. Another farmer asked for encroachments to be cleared near Nilaiyur channel which he said were affecting the flow of water to storage ponds.
Reacting to the complaints, Collector L. Subramanian asked PWD officials to step up surveillance and work in coordination with the Revenue department to protect the waterbodies.
“Tanks closer to the city limits which are exposed to urbanisation need more vigilance,” he added.
Stating that there had been irregularities with respect to procurement rates at Direct Procurement Centres (DPC), the farmers said that many centres charged high rates for labour and freight. “Many farmers were forced to pay anywhere between Rs.30 to Rs. 40 for transportation and freight,” said M. Tirupati from Kulamangalam.
Animal menace
K. Thevaraj, a farmer, complained that wild boars were destroying crops at Sedapatti, Usilampatti, T. Kallupatti and Kallikudi. Joint Director of Agriculture Jaisingh Gnanadurai said that photographs of destroyed crops, submitted by the farmers, had been forwarded to the Forest department for payment of compensation.
