As many as 170 farmers, who had given land to the Nallathangal Odai reservoir at Koneripatti near Dharapuram, are on a hunger strike for the 13th day because they had to pay bribes to the government officials and get the compensation amount.
Tirupur: The farmers who gave land to the Nallathangal dam resorted to a novel protest by begging and bribing officials to demand compensation.
The farmers of Ponnivadi village near Dharapuram in Tirupur district have been protesting day and night in Koneripatti for the 13th day, demanding compensation for the farmers who had given land for the construction of nallathangal reservoir dam.
In this situation, the farmers protested begging at the waiting pandal.
More than 100 farmers begged and protested to draw the attention of the Tamil Nadu government and public works department officials.
Farmer Balasubramanian said, “In 1997, public works department officials acquired 750 acres of land from 150 farmers for the construction of nallathangal odai reservoir in Ponnivadi village and started the construction of the dam in 2000.
At that time, the land was acquired from the farmers for the construction of the dam. In 2003, the affected farmers had filed a case in the court seeking compensation from the farmers who had given the land. Despite the court verdict, the Dharapuram PWD officials have been deceiving the farmers by not paying compensation for the past 24 years.
We protested demanding minimum full compensation. As a result, the revenue officials have appealed to the farmers' case.
We demanded the withdrawal of the appeal and bribed the officials for begging from the public and demanding that our case be withdrawn. "We have been collecting money by begging everyone by saying that the officials are deceiving the farmers for not paying any bribe for the last 24 years and that we are ready to bribe the officials at least in the cash that begged. “
The farmers of Ponnivadi village near Dharapuram in Tirupur district have been protesting day and night in Koneripatti for the 13th day, demanding compensation for the farmers who had given land for the construction of nallathangal reservoir dam.
In this situation, the farmers protested begging at the waiting pandal.
More than 100 farmers begged and protested to draw the attention of the Tamil Nadu government and public works department officials.
Farmer Balasubramanian said, “In 1997, public works department officials acquired 750 acres of land from 150 farmers for the construction of nallathangal odai reservoir in Ponnivadi village and started the construction of the dam in 2000.
At that time, the land was acquired from the farmers for the construction of the dam. In 2003, the affected farmers had filed a case in the court seeking compensation from the farmers who had given the land. Despite the court verdict, the Dharapuram PWD officials have been deceiving the farmers by not paying compensation for the past 24 years.
We protested demanding minimum full compensation. As a result, the revenue officials have appealed to the farmers' case.
We demanded the withdrawal of the appeal and bribed the officials for begging from the public and demanding that our case be withdrawn. "We have been collecting money by begging everyone by saying that the officials are deceiving the farmers for not paying any bribe for the last 24 years and that we are ready to bribe the officials at least in the cash that begged. “