Farmers have alleged that since they were not allowed to remove silt from dry tanks, contractors fleeced those in dire need of silt to nourish their fields.
Raising this issue in the farmers’ grievance redressal meeting at the Collectorate on Friday, P. Velmayil of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam said the application for taking sand or silt from dry tanks could not be obtained from either the Public Works Department or the Department of Mines as it was being sold clandestinely for Rs. 4,000.
“Since only sand mafias win the contract for deepening irrigation tanks, we’re forced to approach them. The filled-in applications are received only by representatives of the sand mafia and not by the officials. If no money is given, the applicant will be asked to meet Agriculture, Mines and PWD officials which will consume a minimum of three to four months. After all this, the application will get rejected,” Mr. Velmayil said.
When Mines officials tried to give an explanation, the farmers in unison appealed to Collector M. Karunakaran to empower PWD officials to give permission for taking silt from tanks.
When farmers complained of pest attack in coconut trees in western Tirunelveli, the Collector asked officials to take steps to revive the defunct Parasite Breeding Station in Shencottai so that pests could be controlled biologically.
