The attempt to acquire fertile lands to set up an industrial estate in the Koradacherry Panchayat Union domain in the Tiruvarur district was condemned by the Thamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam.
In a statement on Saturday, association general secretary P.R. Pandian said that when a similar attempt was made to measure the agriculture land for acquisition by the government officials six months ago, it was vehemently opposed by local farmers who had taken the lands on lease from the Hindu religious institutions.
The government officials retreated by assuring farmers that they would not go ahead with the exercise anymore. A few days ago, a group of government officials reached Kallukudi, Kattali hamlets in Karaiyapalaiyur Village Panchayat in Koradacherry Panchayat Union stating that it wanted to measure the agricultural lands owned by the Hindu Religious Institutions to facilitate setting up of an industrial estate by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT).
When the tenant farmers raised objections, the officials told them that they had permission from the “real owners” of the lands and went ahead with the measuring the lands identified for setting up the industrial estate.
These lands were taken on lease and were being cultivated by farmers for more than a century. About 80% of these farmers belong to the oppressed communities, Mr. Pandian said and added that agriculture was their only source of livelihood. He urged the State government to pursue its ambition to promote industrial activity by acquiring thousands of barren land at Vadapathimangalam in the same district.
It would be better to acquire barren land owned by the erstwhile private sugar company, the Arooran Sugar Mills, instead of acquiring fertile agricultural lands with the “consent” of the head of the Hindu Religious Institutions, though they did not have any right to sell or bequeath the lands donated to or bought by their institutions for the socio-religious activities of their respective institutions, he said.
