After having promised of dropping the proposal, again letter sent for acquiring “untilised” parcels of land
Farmers of Virudhunagar district have expressed shock over Virudhunagar district administration’s renewed attempt to acquire 129 acres of land belonging to Regional Agricultural Research Centre at Kovilankulam near here for setting up SIPCOT industrial park.
When the revenue officials first sent a proposal to the acquire the land of the agricultural research centre, farmers had vehemently oppposed the proposal in March 2025.
“This centre has been carrying out research on dryland crops meant for southern districts. It was also coordinating with agricultural colleges, horticulture colleges and other research centres and it had been upgraded as Coordination Centre of Regional Research and Extension Advisory Council of South Zone for training and skill development schemes of the Central government,” said Virudhunagar president of Cauvery Vaigai Gundar Kiruthumal Irrigation Farmers’ Federation, R. Rampandian said.
“However, within the next few days, the Collector, V.P. Jeyaseelan, announced that the proposal to acquire the land of the agricultural centre had been dropped by the district administration during the farmers’ grievances redress meeting held on March 21,” he added.
