Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092754270300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Regularise power supply, say ryots

Special Correspondent

Cooperative banks urged to extend loans liberally to those who are raising crops other than sugarcane

VILLUPURAM: Farmers in the districts have urged Collector R. Palanisamy to take steps to regulate electricity supply to carry on farming without hindrance.

Participating in a grievances day meeting held here on Friday, they said frequent power cuts had greatly affected irrigation prospects and if the situation continued, there would be drastic fall in the yield.

It would adversely affect the farmers and, in turn, all people.

The farmers also called upon the cooperative banks to extend loans liberally to those who were raising crops other than sugarcane. They called for speedy transfer of pattas and wanted tanks to be desilted before the northeast monsoon. They also sought adequate supply of fertilizers.

The Collector received 105 petitions and forwarded them to the respective departments.

To recharge wells

Mr. Palanisamy said a sum of Rs. 65 lakh had been sanctioned for the district to recharge irrigation wells.

He called upon the farmers to utilise the funds and improve yield.

He explained the functioning of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and added that it was being implemented in the district in a proper manner.