Tiruchirapalli farmers concerned over the price being offered by traders which is lower than the expenses incurred by farmers have urged the district administration to introduce mobile procurement centres for the procurement of cotton, to enable farmers to get reasonable price for their produce.

Chelladurai, district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, said that at the farmers’ grievances day meeting here that besides the poor yield of the rain-fed crops because of monsoon failure, farmers were worried at the poor price being offered by traders for their produce.

Moreover, the farmers have to depend on Tiruchi market. The district administration should make arrangements to help farmers market their produce at reasonable price and should come forward to open mobile procurement centres in the district.

P. Viswanathan, president of the Tamizhaga Eri Matrum Aatrupasana Vivasayigal Sangam – Tamil Nadu, made a forceful plea for dredging channels in Veppanthattai union.

A majority of the tanks in this union had dried up as the rainwater did not reach them because of bad condition of supply channels. The dredging of supply channels would help recharge groundwater.

Stating that cotton and other crop had failed in the district, Mr. Viswanathan urged the district administration to recommend waiver of all farm loans.

Mr. Viswanathan pleaded for a meeting of farmers and officials and bankers every month to discuss the same.

A. Rajendran, district vice president of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, complained that the reverse osmosis plants set up at the primary health centres were not functioning.

Darez Ahamed, Collector, who presided over the meeting, directed the health department officials to set right all the RO plants and give a report to him.

Dr. Ahamed said that the government had sanctioned Rs. 9.5 crore for the supply of drinking water during summer and the work on laying of pipelines had already begun. The administration will ensure regular supply of water during summer.

V. Jayaraman, district president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, expressed apprehension that the district might face severe drinking water scarcity because of failure of monsoon and urged the district administration to take steps to ensure supply of potable drinking water.