Considering the number of complaints raised by farmers in Madurai district with regard to irregularities in paddy procurement, Madurai Collector K. J. Praveen Kumar told the farmers that a meeting will be convened with farmers, agriculture officers and Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation officials to discuss the issue.

The Collector was presiding over the farmers grievance redress meeting held on Thursday at the Madurai Collectorate. The farmers raised several issues during the meeting. Some of the issues were with regard to the release of water for irrigation, desilting of waterbodies and removal of encroachments.

The Collector instructed the authorities concerned to conduct an eviction drive to remove the encroachments. There were heated arguments between a section of the farmers during the meeting when the issue regarding the release of water under the 58 canal scheme for irrigation purposes was discussed.

Some of the other issues discussed at the meeting were with regard to the implementation of the MGNREGA scheme. The farmers said that the workers could be engaged for agricultural work and it would benefit the farmers. The farmers also sought the removal of seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees.

A complaint was raised during the meeting alleging that a gram sabha meeting held on August 15 marking the Independence day celebrations was completed in 15 minutes. The Collector instructed the authorities to verify if the meeting was completed in such a short duration.