TN Farmers Protest Demanding Dues for Sugarcane, Oppose Chennai-Salem Expressway Project

Farmers from different parts of Tamil Nadu stormed the state secretariat in Chennai on Thursday. Sugarcane farmers demanding the disbursal of Rs 1,700 crores dues and the farmers affected by the installation of high-tension electric lines through farm lands took part in the protest in large numbers and condemned the inaction of the state government. 

They have also raised the demand for withdrawal of the Chennai-Salem Green Corridor project, which found a mention in the latest Union budget. The farmers have been holding protests against the project citing reasons including an adverse impact on the fragile ecosystem prevailing in the planned route.

The farmers also demanded the withdrawal of the three farm laws and extended solidarity with the protesting farmers. 

DROP GREEN CORRIDOR PROJECT

The Union budget, which made an array of promises to the poll-bound states, announced the commencement of the eight-lane ‘green corridor’ project connecting Chennai and Salem. After a series of protests, including a legal fight, the farmers got a short-lived relief, which was overturned by the Supreme Court verdict in favour of the project.

P Shanmugam, state general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) said, "The implementation of the project will lead to loss of fertile lands of the farmers. The Union and state governments persisting in the project is highly condemnable. The land is the right of the farmers and the government should respect the concerns raised by the farmers."

A committee against the Green Corridor project and several farmers organisations have opposed the project since the announcement, citing land acquisition issues in reserve forest areas. The farmers are demanding unconditional scrapping of the project by the state and Union governments. 

The AIKS also urged the state government to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the project, but the AIADMK-led government has remained in favour of the project.

'INCREASE MSP FOR CANE FARMERS, PAY DUE' 

The sugarcane farmers say they are being exploited by the private mills with the state government remaining a mute spectator. The farmers’ dues from the private sugar mills have mounted to Rs 1,700 crores over the years, leaving the farmers in severe distress. 

D Raveendran, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers Association, told Newsclick, "The private sugar mills have been violating all rules that ensure the payment to farmers. The state government must ensure that the farmers are paid by the mills without any further delay."

The public sector and cooperative mills also owe Rs 138 crores to farmers as dues of the state advisory price (SAP). The AIKS has demanded the payment in the month of February this year. The inordinate delay in payment for the cane supplied has forced the farmers to borrow money from private money lenders at exorbitantly high interest rates. Such borrowings have pushed the farmers further deep into debt and even to suicides at times. 

The farmers are fighting for an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for cane to Rs 5,000 per tonne. "The union government has announced an MSP of Rs 2,850 for cane this year, which is very low. The government must increase it to Rs 5,000 per tonne and the state government must fix the SAP (State Administered Price) at Rs 500 per quintal,” Raveendran added. 

The AIKS has also insisted on the government reopening the two private mills, which were closed down, to give lease of life to the mill employees and the farmers. 

FARMERS AFFECTED BY HT ELECTRIC LINES

The high-tension electric lines are laid through the farm lands in 12 districts of the western districts in the state. The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) is carrying out the project but the compensation is yet to be paid, the farmers alleged. The invoking of the 'Telegraph Act' to acquire land for the project by the state government also witnessed severe opposition. 

A statement by the AIKS, which led the protests on Thursday, said, "The state government must ensure that the compensation for the farmers are being paid well before the works are being started for installing the towers carrying high-tension lines.”

The farmers across the poll-bound state, including those involved in paddy cultivation, are facing multiple issues and are protesting continuously against the policies of the state and Union governments. The three farm laws have increased the apprehension of the farmers over their plights increasing manifold with corporate giants entering the agriculture sector.