Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon at farmers’ grievance meeting at Collectorate in Ramanathapuram on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Ramanathapuram farmers urged the district administration during the farmers’ grievance meeting here on Friday to desilt the tanks and supply channels before the onset of monsoon season.During the meeting, a farmer named Kannappan from Paramakudi said: “The 55-acre irrigation tank and water supply channels in our area are densely covered with ‘Seemai Karuvelam’ trees. The sluice areas are also completely silted up. The tanks and supply channels must be desilted before the monsoon season.”R.S. Mangalam Tank Irrigation Association president Vanmeeganathan adding to it, said, “Private individuals have encroached upon areas, including the catchment supply channel of the R.S. Mangalam Big Tank. The work of blocking the supply sluice to construct a road must also be stopped. The pattas issued there must be cancelled. Otherwise, water will not reach 61 irrigation tanks, and agriculture will be affected.”District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon replied, “Encroachments on the tank catchment areas will be removed. Action will be taken by the Revenue Department regarding the road construction work in the tank area. As per the government order, we are taking steps to remove ‘Seemai Karuvelam’ trees spread across 10,000 hectares in the district, which are harming water resources and agriculture.”“More than a thousand farmers have been affected due to the non-receipt of the 2021 crop loan waiver receipts in cooperative societies,” said Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association president MuthuramuRegional Joint Registrar of Cooperatives Jeenu responding to the complaint said, “875 farmers have received their crop loan waiver funds. They will be granted loans this year. Action will be taken to disburse crop loans well in advance.”Similarly, farmers from Kamuthi, Sikkal, Karkaathagudi, and Pudukkudi areas urged that ‘Seemai Karuvelam’ trees growing in the Vaigai riverbed areas must be removed. They also demanded that panchayat union tanks be integrated with the Public Works Department (PWD) and full compensation be provided for crops damaged by wild boars and deer.Mr. Simranjeet Singh Kahlon responded that if crops were damaged by wild animals, a VAO (Village Administrative Officer) certificate was not required; just an application for compensation can be submitted to the Forest Department using the Adangal (land record). Schemes like agricultural motor subsidies and free electricity will be implemented once guidelines from the new government are received. The demands of the farmers will be fulfilled.” Published - May 29, 2026 08:41 pm IST
