Date:28/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/28/stories/2007122860420600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Collector talks tough

Staff Reporter

ARIYALUR: The district administration will initiate action to clear encroachments on tanks and other water-courses, the Collector, V. M. Xavier Chrisso Nayagam, said.

Presiding over the Farmers’ grievances day meeting here on Thursday, the Collector said that the High Court’s directive and the subsequent introduction of an exclusive Act by the State Government in this regard would be implemented in letter and spirit.

He even showed the clippings of newspaper with reports on the provisions of the Act which included sentence for a term up to three years.

He warned the farmers that if they did not evict the encroachments, the district administration would spare no efforts to clear the same using, if needed, even machinery.

A number of farmers pleaded for adequate compensation to the crop damaged by the recent rains in the district. They said that the harvest of almost all crops would be affected this season, following the heavy damage.

Referring to a plea by the cane-growers for early payment of arrears and also sanctioning of advance for the forthcoming season, the Collector said that talks would be held with the management of the factory for expeditious disbursement of the arrears in the presence of the Revenue Divisional Officer and the Agriculture Department officials to sort out the issue.