MADURAI: Farmers in Sivarakottai and nearby villages are opposing the special economic zone (SEZ) on their fertile agricultural land, which was proposed in 2008. They say that while most of the areas in the district are hit by drought due to the absence of monsoons, their lands continue to produce good harvest. While barren lands are available in nearby areas, the fertile lands to the tune of around 1480 acres of land in Sivarakottai, Karisalkalanpatti and Swami Mallampatti villages and falling under Tirumangalam taluk are proposed to be taken by the government. The farmers so far have conducted more than 50 protests against it.
"Despite drought in various parts of the district we continue to get good harvest from our lands. We cultivate pulses, millets, cotton and medicinal plants which require very less water and successfully sailing through the drought. There are a large number of natural water bodies and streams available around our lands to store water during rainy season," said Y Pandian, a farmer from Sivarakottai.
M Ramalingam, president of the Madurai District Farmers Welfare Association said, "Officials had misguided the government by terming the areas as barren and infertile. Their dry land farming method is far profitable than wet land farming as they use no pesticides or chemical fertilisers. The area is rich in flora and fauna. If the
SEZ is set up in the area, it would not only affect about 1,500 farmers and their families but also the wild animals here."
They frequently come across deer, wild boars and foxes apart from peacocks. Though the animals damage their agriculture fields they do not mind them. They would fence their land if the problem is frequent, the farmers said.
Ramalingam alleged that the project was proposed in that place due to some vested interests. After the project was proposed in 2008, a large area of land has been bought in nearby areas by such political leaders, he said.
Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com