Disgust and anger of farmers over inordinate delay by officials in responding to petitions and their evasive replies surfaced in the agriculturists’ grievances day meeting held at the Collectorate here on Friday.
Many farmers were highly irked by the replies given by officials. At one stage, farmers had gone to the level of naming the officials in various departments who did not respond to their pleas.
One farmer from Gujiliamparai openly stated a bank official scolded him when he had approached him for information.
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The farmers also expressed their anger over poor quality in construction of check-dams in several places.
When the officials said that they should not make random statements and sought to specify their complaints, a farmer said that the condition of a check-dam was very pathetic at V.S. Kottai. After the construction of check-dams, they were simply abandoned. They should be properly maintained, failing which the aim of check-dams would be defeated.
Farmers from Kodaikanal led by Rajagopal said that the proposed sanctuary in Kodaikanal would wipe out all agriculture activities on the hill and alleged that 10 places were identified for tourism development which was violations of rules and guidelines.
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There was no response from officials to our petitions given last month. But officials replied that the matter was pending in the court. The farmers said that the case was filed very recently only. But we gave the petition last month.
Collector T.N. Hariharan advised them to give a petition to him and to meet him for a discussion.
When he said that the demand for long staple cotton was high, farmers replied that that they did not know whom to approach. The Collector said that they could sell cotton through the Cotton Corporation of India.
A farmer from Gujiliamparai said a bank official scolded him when he had approached him for information