A meeting to address farmers’ grievances held here on Friday witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue of acquisition of fertile land for the Salem– Chennai green corridor project with a section of farmers staging a walkout demanding the government drop the project.
S. Selvaraj, a farmer of Nalikkalpatti affiliated to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), said the project would affect the entire farming community of the district. The acquisition of fertile lands would hit the livelihood of farmers.
‘Panic created’
He said he and other farmers, who had given their lands for the earlier road-widening work, had not received the fixed compensation so far. This was an attempt to destroy agriculture and natural resources. Police personnel camping in the villages had created panic among farmers, he alleged. Soon, a farmers’ representative belonging to ruling party took objection to the walkout and claimed that a majority of the farmers were supporting the project. This provoked a majority of the farmers and their representatives who shouted down the ruling party man.
Rohini R. Bhajibhakare, District Collector, R. Sukumar, District Revenue Officer and other officials, pacified them and restored normalcy.
Mr. Selvaraj, M.K. Selvaraj, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam and affiliated to CPI and members of a few other oganisations walked out of the meeting.
Some other farmers’ representatives attempted to stage a walkout, but they stayed back at the intervention of the Collector.
A. Ramamoorthy, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI (M) criticised the officials for undertaking the survey work without the permission of land owners. He alleged that policemen were intimidating the villagers and demanded their withdrawal immediately.
