Ryots pin hopes on AIADMK regime after rules bent to acquire land

Farmers pin hopes on AIADMK regime after rules

bent to acquire fertile lands for industries


C Shivakumar Chennai:

Farmers in three villages of Madurai district, who have been battling against the state machinery during the DMK regime to save their fertile lands from being acquired for industries, are now pinning their hopes on the AIADMK government and have urged the state chief minister J Jayalalithaa to look into the issue of forcible acquisition of land by officials bending every rules. The farmers along with rights activists met State Agriculture Minister K A Sengottaiyan, Industries Minister S P Velumani and Industries secretary Dr N Sundaradevan and provided them with valid documents highlighting the state high-handedness in acquiring 1,478 acres of land in Sivarakkotai, Karisalkalanpatti and Swamimallampatti in Thirumangalam taluk of Madurai district by lying in the court, tampering with the records and even burning them and denying information through right to information act.

When Express contacted the Industries Secretary Dr N Sundaradevan, he said State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) is looking into the issue and refused to comment further.

Talking to Express after meeting the officials and submitting a petition, RTI activist and Madurai District Farmers Welfare Association secretary M Ramalingam said that the district administration during the DMK regime used every tactic to acquire fertile lands for industries even though the then Industries secretary has specifically mentioned not to acquire fertile land and water bodies. According to documents available with Express, then Madurai district collector S S Jawahar identified fertile lands for acquisition and then prepared a fudged document to show the land is barren and dry. Now the local MLA has given a letter stating that the land is fertile, says Ramalingam while handing over a copy of it. Interestingly, when the farmers approached the court, the collector lied in the court stating only 96 farmers own 1,470 acres of tract where as the district administration issued notices to 2,000 farmers. And when the court sought documents, land records were mysteriously burnt and a village administrative officer was arrested and later let off,” the farmer turned RTI activist says.


Surprisingly, a 2001 census earlier has stated that the three villages have more than 600 farmers. “By 2011, there are about 2,000 cultivators. The district collector lied in the court. It is perjury. He along with all the officials who tampered with the records and tried to affect the livelihood of farmers has to be dismissed and punished,” demanded Ramalingam. He feels there is a ray of hope with the change in the regime. “The minister and officials gave a patient hearing and have assured to take necessary action,” he said, adding that the farmers are not against industries but want the government to identify barren lands lying idle nearby. “Why not those lands which have been used to buy colleges and for real estate purposes be used,” he added