Virudhunagar district administration has come up with a plan of action for removing seemai karuvelam, the invasive species, from Government offices and Government land, with coordinated efforts from various departments, said Virudhunagar Collector N. O. Sukhaputra.

Chairing the monthly grievances redressal meeting here on Friday, Mr. Sukhaputra said that the initiative under ‘Virudhunagar Chezhumai Karuvoolam’ would begin very soon.

In the first phase, all Government buildings, including the Collectorate, Taluk Offices and Block Development Offices, would be made free of seemai karuvelam. Later, efforts would be taken to remove them from Government poramboke land.

The removed trees would be auctioned after the forest department fixes their value.

Participating in the discussion, farmers expressed their disappointment over the issue of crop loan waiver. The Government should fulfill the promise in its entirety by total waiver of the crop loan, said a senior farmer, N. A. Ramachandra Raja. The farmers also wanted the district administration to convey the concerns of the farmers to the State Government.

Vijayamurugan of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam complained that application submitted seeking to remove top soil (vandal mann) for farming purpose last year evoked no response from the officials.

He said that the VAOs were capable of distinguishing between genuine farmers and those who try to exploit the scheme for commercial purpose and hence wanted to expedite it.

R. Rampandian of Southern Districts Farmers’ Association wanted the district administration to earmark grazing land in the district to help the farmers.

He also sought to expedite the process of giving compensation under crop insurance scheme to farmers who had lost paddy crop in Tiruchuli and Narikudi region during 2024-25. “Even after the Centre had taken a policy decision in favour of the farmers, why is it getting delayed?” he asked.

Farmers demanded extending crop insurance scheme for mango cultivation being done on 10,500 hectares in Virudhungar district too. They complained that due to lack of insurance scheme, the farmers were facing huge loss caused by climatic changes.

A farmer rued about ineffectiveness of Government order on culling of wild boars that were badly damaging crops in the district. Deputy Director of Srivilliputtur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve, Ravi, said that as the wild boars come out only during nights they are not visible. Besides, they take refuge behind karuvelam trees.

“Once the karuvelam trees are removed, the task would become easier,” he added.

When an official from Dharani Sugars sought more time for paying ₹10 crore arrears to farmers, the District Collector came down heavily on him for the inordinate delay of payment which was causing distress to the farmers.

While one farmer sought supply of seeds for chilli instead of nurseries, another farmer sought free saplings of jasmine that would fetch better returns to the farmers.

Joint Director of Agriculture, P. Mohandass Soumiyan, appealed to the farmers to register themselves under Farmers Stack to get assistance under various Government schemes.

Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to Collector, A. Amsaveni, Deputy Director, Horiculture, Suba Vasuki, Executive Engineer, Agricultural Engineering, Indira, were among those who were present.