The petition said that on a wartime basis all the co-operative societies should purchase the copra and pay the amount to the farmers within a week of purchasing the copra.
Coimbatore: The BJP led by Coimbatore South District Chairman K Vasantharajan has filed a petition with the District Collector regarding the purchase of copra.
For the last two and a half years, copra has been selling at Rs.110 to Rs.140 per kg, benefiting the coconut farmers. But unexpectedly the price of coconut copra dropped to 80 rupees. At the same time commodity prices have risen many times over other costs of wages. This has caused great distress to farmers in the region.
The situation has not improved for about 6 months since the government announced the purchase of copra. The price which was 90 rupees when announced has now been reduced by another Rs 11.
This is due to the very low sluggish copra purchase. Thus the reserve has increased with the farmers. Available up to 1500 kg per acre per year, order to purchase at least 750 kg copra per acre, The same fall in prices occurred 10 years ago when Karunanidhi was Chief minister and upon his orders purchasing centers were opened in all the Market Committee and Co-operative Societies.
More than a hundred purchasing centers were opened in Coimbatore district. As a result, the price of rice rose by 15 rupees per kilo in 60 days and farmers recovered from the fall. But at present there are less than 5 purchasing centers in Coimbatore district and farmers are greatly affected. At the existing purchasing centers, they buy only 100 to 200 bundles a day. This is annoying to farmers.
Farmers in our district can only benefit if they buy up to 2,000 bundles a day at the purchasing centers. Thus, all co-operative societies should be asked to purchase copra and pay the farmers within a week of purchasing the copra in war-footing.
In addition, many quarries in the Madukkarai Kinathukadavu area have been operating with the help of the authorities without permission and expiration of permits in connection with the mineral abuse.
They should be ordered to stop this immediately. PERMIT PASS is issued only through S.R.GROUP (PVT) and not from the government directly.
Using this S.R.GROUP (PVT) is charging Rs.400 per 1 unit of soil. The plunder is being conducted with the help of the MINE DEPARTMENT with the aide of the Police Department. Thus the price of gravel soil used by the public has increased by Rs.400 per unit.
The TRANSIT PASS required to transport quarry stones to Kerala is issued by V.P & CO only with the permission of the Government and not to STOCK YARD holders. V.P & CO set up private checkposts near all state CHECKPOSTs and charge Rs.300 per unit for TRANSIT PASS and receipt.
Only if this receipt is shown will they be allowed at the border check post. The mineral resources of Tamil Nadu are being exploited and illegally sold to Kerala. This is a very dangerous trend and this incident is taking place using a PARALLEL government. A petition has been filed with the District Collector headed by BJP Coimbatore South District Chairman K. Vasantharajan demanding immediate action and arrest of government officials and robbers who were complicit in this.