Alleging serious air pollution by the recently commissioned ethanol manufacturing unit at Gangaikondan SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre, villagers from Thuraiyoor near here submitted a petition to District Collector R. Sukumar on Monday seeking steps to check the pollutants emanating from the plant round-the-clock.
The petitioners, led by farmer S. Ilosius, said the village of Thuraiyoor housing farmhands, small farmers, and labourers from Scheduled Caste is facing serious air pollution in recent days as the pollutants from the ethanol manufacturing unit was badly polluting the environment. The children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and the patients undergoing treatment for various ailments are the worst affected by this problem.
“The villagers suffer from nausea, digestion and breathing problems after inhaling the air polluted by the pollutants billowing from the ethanol manufacturing unit. The students of the Panchayat Union Middle School and the St. John’s Primary School in Thuraiyoor are complaining about various health issues after this ethanol manufacturing unit started ethanol production. Hence, we submitted a petition to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board seeking action to control the pollution, but in vain. Hence, we appeal to the Collector to visit the villages around this factory to personally ascertain the problems faced by the people,” Mr. Ilosius appealed.
Insurance payout
Members of Tamil Nadu All Farmers’ Associations Coordination Committee submitted a petition to the Collector seeking early disbursal of insurance benefits to the black gram growers who reportedly suffered extensive crop loss due to monsoon failure last year.
Led by Coordination Committee’s district secretary D. Abraham of Kaanaarpatti, the petitioners said the black gram growers, especially from the rain-shadow region of Maanur, had insured their crop last year. Due to monsoon failure, most farmers suffered severe crop loss.
“Even though we’ve submitted petitions seeking early disbursal of crop insurance benefits, the insurer is in no mood to give the compensation to growers who had promptly paid the insurance premium before the stipulated deadline. When we met the officials concerned in mid-August, the officials promised that the insurance benefits would be credited in bank accounts within a week. But even after 10 days, there has been no sign of the aggrieved farmers getting the insurance benefits. Hence, the Collector should instruct the agriculture department officials and the insurance company to immediately disburse the compensation to black gram growers,” Mr. Abraham said.
Accusing a private firm of illegally occupying the lands of the poor individuals of Arockiyanathapuram near Palayamkottai, a group of farmers along with the CPI (M) workers submitted petition to the Collector.
Land grab charge
They said the private firm, after purchasing 15 acres of land from the farmers, had illegally occupied 45 acres of land belonging to various individuals.
Despite repeated petitions submitted with the revenue officials, an inquiry has not been conducted. Hence, the Collector should take immediate action, they said.
