Farmers complained that over 2500 milch cows died due to foot-and-mouth disease in the district at the monthly grievances meeting held at the collectorate here on Friday.
Farmers from various associations raised their voice against the lethargy shown by the officials of the department of Animal Husbandry in preventing and controlling the disease in the district.
G.R. Logabiram, state secretary of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam raised the issued along with other farmers at the grievances meeing.
Replying to their allegations, district level officials, who were present at the meeting, said that as per the records, only 40 cows died in foot-and-mouth disease.
An official from the Animal Husbandry Department said that farmers should register the death of the milch cow with the concerned village administrative officers.
When he announced this, Mr. Logabiram said that the procedure for registering the death of the animal was new to entire farming community, as no one is aware of this procedure. It is the duty of the officials to inform the farmers through issue of pamphlets.
Some of the farmers appealed to the government to give compensation of Rs. 25,000 for the death of cattle, which was being implemented in Karnataka.
Mr. Logabiram accused that the Kodipalli Panchayat President broke the pipelines that was laid for irrigation by a farmer from Thottegan Eri to his agriculture field recently.
He said that the government encroached the patta land of the said farmer for laying drinking water pipelines and also constructed an overhead tank for distribution of water to the village.
Based on this, a complaint was lodged at the Veppanahalli Police Station on October 2, and later the issue was raised with the collector on October 7.
However , it evoked no response and hence, the association is contemplating to contest in an appropriate court against the alleged panchayat president and also the district administration, he added.
Collector T.P. Rajesh presided over the meeting.
Dharmapuri
Presiding over the farmers’ grievances meeting, Collector K. Vivekanandan directed the officials to give top priority in disposing the petitions from the farmers.
Similarly, welfare assistance to the farmers should be disbursed as quickly as possible.
Officials of agriculture department should convene the meetings of the ayacut farmers and should find quick solution to their problems.
P. Ramar, district revenue officer among others participated, a DIPR release said.
