Collector L. Subramanian reprimanded officials for the delay in disbursal of subsidies to farmers.
M.S. Ramachandran, a farmer from Achampathu, submitted a petition to the Collector stating that he was yet to receive the full subsidy from the Backward Class, Most Backward Class and Minorities Welfare Department for erecting motors and pump sets on his land way back in 2012. Many other farmers also said they were yet to receive the subsidy of Rs.50,000.
The Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer L. Chitrarasu told the officials from the Backward Class Welfare Department to disburse the subsidy dues within a week.
As in the earlier meetings, farmers persisted with their demand to declare Madurai as a drought-affected district. “We have lost all the crops and no survey has been taken in my area. The rains were scarce and groundwater reserves have completely depleted,” a farmer from Vadipatti said.
Farmers who had lost their coconut, mango and sugarcane crops to drought said the authorities had not surveyed their farmlands to ascertain the loss and give compensation.
Joint Director of Agriculture Jaisingh Gnanadurai said the survey was under way and would be completed within the next two days and a detailed report on losses incurred by all the farmers will be submitted.”
