Collector Vishu Mahajan addressing the farmers’ grievance redress meeting in Thoothukudi Collectorate on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: RAJESH N
Farmers have urged the authorities to remove water hyacinths and encroachments from waterbodies and waterways in Thoothukudi district.
The demand was raised at the farmers’ grievance redress meeting held at Thoothukudi Collectorate on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by District Collector Vishu Mahajan.
During the meeting farmers raised several demands, including the removal of encroachment from the stormwater drain at Kakkan Nagar in Pannamparai junction in Sathankulam.
They also sought fishing rights in Naalayiramudaiyar tank to be given to the farmers associations and to expedite the release of crop insurance compensation for the year 2025-2026. They urged the authorities also to drop the proposal to acquire agricultural land at Vellamadam area in Eral taluk for the proposed space park.
The farmers sought desilting of several tanks in Meignanapuram area, including Pettaikulam, Semmariputhukulam, Nochikulam, Sambaruthakulam, Kurundhakulam and Sadayaneri tank.
Farmers urged the authorities to stop registering cases against them on the grounds that sucrose content in palm jaggery and palm candy was below the prescribed level.
They raised concern over leaks in drinking water pipeline, carrying water from Tamirabharani river to Kalugumalai area and sought immediate repairs. They further urged authorities for the immediate removal of water hyacinth and encroachments from the Tamirabharani-fed irrigation tanks and waterways in Tiruchendur and Arumuganeri areas.
Responding to the demands, Mr. Mahajan said steps were being taken to remove encroachments from waterbodies and desilt them. He said that a court order had directed that priority be given to inland fishermen and farmers associations in fishery rights auction in Public Works Department (PWD) tanks and that appropriate action would be taken.
Regarding the crop insurance compensation for 2025-2026, he noted compensation had been released for some agricultural crops and steps were being taken to release compensation for remaining agricultural and horticultural crops at the earliest. The Collector further noted that inspection would be carried out in Vellamadam area and appropriate action will be taken.
On the sucrose content of palm jaggery and palm candy, he said even some genuine products had sucrose content below the prescribed level. A request had therefore been made to the Food Safety Department to revise the prescribed sucrose level. He added that necessary arrangements would also be made to ensure that the food safety department did not take action against farmers solely on the basis of sucrose content.
The Collector noted that action would be taken to repair the drinking water pipeline and to remove water hyacinth and encroachments in Tamirabharani irrigation areas.
Joint director of Agriculture Krishnakumar, District Forest Officer M. Ilayaraja and other officials were present.
Published – September 17, 2026 06:48 pm IST
