Farmers have expressed concern over the desilting work and pest attack on coconut trees at the agriculture grievance meeting held in Thanjavur on May 30.

Participating in the monthly grievance meeting chaired by Collector B. Priyanka Pankajam at Thanjavur Collectorate, farmers expressed displeasure over the manner in which desilting work was being carried out in around 300 places across Thanjavur district this year. Ravichandran of Thanjavur said officials had been releasing the funds allocated for the work in a hurry even though the local people and farmers knew that the work had not been executed as per the tender conditions.

While he sought a White Paper on desilting work carried out in the district, V. Jeevakumar of Budalur exhorted the officials to renovate the vintage barrage across the ‘A’ Channel branching off from the Vennar near Katchamangalam, fulfilling the surface water irrigation requirements in Katchamangalam, Ilankadu, Deekshasamudhram, and other hamlets downstream.

Pest attack

Another pertinent issue raised by farmers was the pest attack on the coconut palm trees in Pattukottai and Peravurani areas. Farmrs said most palm trees had been affected by vadal disease and urged the government to take steps to save the coconut crop and urged the government to set up the proposed bio laboratory at Peravurani instead of at Eechankottai in Orathanadu tahluk.

As soon as the meeting commenced, farmers staged a walkout seeking relaxation in the conditions for issuance of gold loans proposed by the Reserve Bank of India.