The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sethu project: `Government behind protests'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sethu project: `Government behind protests'

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL, DEC. 21. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), general secretary, Vaiko, today charged the State Government with instigating protests against the Sethu Samudram project implementation.

Talking to media persons here, Mr. Vaiko said stiff resistance and protests against the project was due to the discreet support of the AIADMK.

Reacting to the Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's announcement on sanctioning of additional funds for crop loan to farmers, he said such announcements remained only on paper. Loans were not disbursed to farmers so far. He would take up the matter with the Minister.

Moreover, the crop loan amount sanctioned by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), had been adjusted by cooperative banks against previous loans obtained by farmers.

Expressing concern over the status of central cooperative banks, Mr. Vaiko said such a situation would force the farmers to approach private lenders. The NABARD and the State Government should disburse crop loans to farmers. The MDMK would also insist the Centre to allocate more funds for agriculture sector.

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