Farmers urge authorities not to evict farmers

Farmers in Theni district alleged that Forest Department officials were interfering and trying to evict the people who have been living, for many years, near the reserve forest in Varusanadu in the district.

At the farmers grievance redress meeting held at Theni Collectorate, presided over by Theni Collector Ranjeet Singh, the farmers protested the move by the forest officials to evict the farmers from the area. They said they have been residing in these areas for many years.

The farmers also urged the Collector to find a solution to the Forest Department’s action to prevent the road repair works in the area. They said the farmers had been using the road for many years.

The farmers from Periyakulam complained that they were not getting adequate water for irrigation purposes. They said sufficient water should be released for irrigation purposes and the same must be ensured by the authorities.

During the meeting, the Collector sought an explanation from the Forest Department officials with regard to the various issues pertaining to the forests and the farmers.

Taking a serious view of the absence of a few Forest Department officials at the farmers grievance redress meeting, the Collector said this was not acceptable. The officials should attend the meetings regularly to resolve important issues and redress grievances of the farmers, he said. If this was repeated the matter will be taken up with the senior officials of the department, he added.