Irregularities at direct purchase centres, indiscriminate stone quarrying, damage to crops by wild animals and various other issues were highlighted by the farmers at the farmers grievance redress meeting held at Madurai Collectorate on Friday.

At the meeting presided over by Madurai Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, farmers complained about the handling charges and other issues at DPCs in the district.

The Collector said a meeting would be held in this regard and a helpline number would be generated to hear the complaints.

Farmers also complained about the delay in disbursing payment for the paddy procured by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF). The Collector said pending payments should be made otherwise it would attract criminal proceedings. Farmers complained that there had been a delay in the payments for over three months.

Indiscriminate stone quarrying in Kallanai in the district was also highlighted by the farmers. The officials told the farmers that they received instructions from the State government to take appropriate action against the illegal quarries. Appropriate action would be taken in this regard, the officials assured the farmers.

Farmers from Thirupparankundram block complained about the crop damage by wild boars. The Collector asked the Forest Department as to whether there were any innovative ways to tackle the issue. The officials said repellents could be used and demonstrations were being carried out at the village level to spread awareness.

After a farmer complained that pigs that were being reared were destroying the crops, the Collector asked the Forest, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and Revenue Departments to look into the issue.

With regard to the removal of Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees, the Collector said the Madras High Court has taken a serious view of the issue. A meeting would be conducted in this regard and appropriate action would be taken, the Collector said.

Some of the other issues raised by the farmers were with regard to sewage being let into the agricultural fields in Alanganallur. The farmers said despite repeated complaints, no proper action was being taken to prevent it. The officials said a joint inspection would be carried out in this regard.

The farmers said they should be given priority in extracting vandal mann (alluvial soil) from the waterbodies. The Collector asked the authorities to prepare a list of waterbodies for the purpose of extraction of alluvial soil. Some of the other issues raised by the farmers were the need for uninterrupted power supply, to remove encroachments from waterbodies and reopen the Alanganallur National Cooperative Sugar Mills.