Rice procurement dues pending: Farmers say Rs 30 crore unpaid for 1,000 growers; water-link demands raised
At a district grievance meeting in Tirunelveli, farmers said procurement dues of about Rs 30 crore for 1,000 growers remain unpaid for six months and demanded Manimutharu–Papanasam water linkage; the district collector assured action.
Farmers from Tirunelveli district told a grievance meeting that procurement dues totalling around Rs 30 crore meant for about 1,000 growers have not been paid for the past six months, causing serious hardship for cultivators.
Representatives urged the authorities to implement a link between the Manimutharu and Papanasam reservoirs so surplus flows from Papanasam during rains can be channelled via a tunnel to fill the Manimutharu reservoir (about 118 feet elevation), which would secure irrigation for several blocks, they said.
District Collector Anand Mohan attended the meeting, heard farmers’ issues and assured them that steps would be taken to pursue the released procurement payments and address irrigation concerns. Farmers also sought permission for deep borewells and highlighted water scarcity in about 18 tanks.
Officials at the meeting also briefed farmers on the Prime Minister’s crop insurance scheme (PMFBY) and related registration deadlines and procedures for kuruvai and other seasonal crops, urging cultivators to enrol to protect against crop loss.
Courtesy: Hindu Tamil Thisai