Saturday, Jan 25, 2003
Saturday, Jan 25, 2003 |
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Tamil Nadu
By Our Staff Reporter
K. Kannaiah Naidu, president of the Vellore Cooperative Sugar Mills Farmers Association, said it was demeaning for farmers to line up with plates at noon meal centres. Instead, they should be given additional quota of rice free of cost through the PDS, he said. His view was endorsed by all farmers. Most of them also opposed the Government move to ban the digging of borewells. Mr. Kannaiah Naidu said those who planted long duration coconut or mango saplings depended solely on borewells. Borewells and open wells were the only source of irrigation as many tanks had gone dry and supply channels encroached upon. However, R. Ramachandran of Krishnampalli and Perumal of Ussoor wanted steps to be taken to prevent digging of borewells for, it resulted in depletion of groundwater. K. Kalairajan, district revenue officer, said until the G.O. was issued, it was not possible to say anything on the matter. Replying to a question from Natarajan, a farmer of Pallikonda, the Collector, A.C. Mohandoss, said farmers whose land was affected by tannery pollution and who were not awarded any compensation by the Loss of Ecology (Prevention of Pollution and Payment of Compensation) Authority in its March 7, 2001 orders, were requested to send their petitions to the Collector or the Authority's office in Chennai before January 31. According to a notification from the Authority, only those applications received by that date would be taken up for enquiry. The Collector said 186 places in Vellore district were affected by tannery pollution. On allegations that village administrative officers demanded bribe for disbursement of compensation, he said he would initiate action if such instances were brought to his notice. "I am even prepared to have the corrupt officials removed", he said, adding that he had also been receiving complaints that several farmers' association leaders took bribes from farmers. G. Gopalsamy Naidu, a farmer of G.R.Palayam, wanted the land tax to be waived from tomorrow itself, as a first step towards helping farmers after the Government declared the entire State, except Chennai, as drought-hit. The district administration should not resort to collection of land tax on the plea that the G.O. had not been received. The Collector announced that waiver of land tax in Vellore district would come into immediate effect. Mr. Kannaiah Naidu demanded immediate payment of arrears for farmers who supplied sugarcane to the Vellore Cooperative Sugar Mills, though it was two months since they supplied the cane. The Government recovered Rs. 25 per tonne from the farmers for the co-generation project to be introduced in the sugar mills with an assurance that the amount would be refunded after selling the molasses. But the amount was yet to be refunded. An official of the sugar mills said Rs.1.25 crores was collected as deposit from farmers for the co-generation project. The mill, after obtaining the licence for sale of molasses realised Rs.67 lakhs through sale of 3300 tonnes of molasses. After selling the molasses the entire amount of Rs.1.25 crores would be refunded.
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