Destroying crops on farmland is unacceptable: Tamilisai on NLC land acquisition
On July 28, Tension prevailed at Neyveli as PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss along with the party's rank and file protested the NLC expansion.
Lt Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan speaking to reporters after visiting Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram (Daily Thanthi)
CHENNAI: Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday said that it is unacceptable for the Central Public Sector Enterprise Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Ltd (NLCIL) management to destroy crops on the acquired farmland for its expansion activities in Neyveli in Cuddalore district.
"It is unacceptable that the NLCIL administration destroying crops on the acquired farmlands. Crops are akin to life. The NLCIL could have waited till the harvest season for the farmers to harvest the crops. However, the NLCIL management claims that it has already acquired the lands. But, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister M R K Panneerselvam has earlier said that the State government had earlier communicated to the farmers not to cultivate in farmlands acquired by the NLCIL. How did the management of the NLCIL allow the gap of ten years for taking procession of acquired lands? Why there is a gap between the State government, the management of the NLCIL, and the farmers? The NLCIL management could have prevented the farmers from cultivating the crops instead of destroying them, Tamilisai told reporters.
She added, "On my way to Karaikal for an administrative consultation meeting, I visited the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram in Cuddalore district and offered prayers. If there is no spirituality, there is no Tamil. It was spirituality that developed the language of Tamil."
Read: Seeman condemns destroying of crops for NLC work
Earlier, PMK president Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against his party cadres and sought the immediate release of twenty-six persons arrested over the protest against NLC mine expansion at Neyveli.
On July 28, Tension prevailed at Neyveli as PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss along with the party's rank and file protested the NLC expansion. Thousands of PMK cadres participated in the protest and raised slogans against NLC. Anbumani was arrested by the police but was released later.
Also Read: EPS flays govt for aiding NLC to acquire farmlands without redressing farmers' grievance
The land acquisition for NLC mining expansion is underway in the villages of Valayamadevi village near Bhuvanagiri in Cuddalore district. During the past two days, villagers demanded that crops should not be destroyed, but the Corporation began its work.
On Saturday, Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan demanded the public sector NLC drop its expansion plan considering the public opposition to it.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court slammed the NLC for taking possession of agricultural lands and destroying crops before harvest in Valayamadevi and its surroundings.
Also Read: AIADMK gives notice to discuss NLC issue in Rajya Sabha
