Latest news with #BangaaruVaickalNeeraadharaKoottamaippu
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Farmers collective alleges irregularities in functioning of Regulated Market Committee in Puducherry
The Bangaaru Vaickal Neeraadhara Koottamaippu, a farmers and water rights collective, has urged the Puducherry government to order a probe into alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Regulated Market Committee. In a letter addressed to Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, the president of the Association, V. Chandrasekhar, said that various irregularities and misappropriation of funds in the Regulated Market had come to light resulting in financial loss to the Puducherry government. He said used gunny bags were purchased for the Regulated Market Committee in violation of Government rules and without approval of the Secretary to the Department of Agriculture. Though a similar irregularity was flagged by the Audit Department in 2021, no action has been taken yet. According to Mr. Chandrasekhar, the Inspector of Licensed Premises (ILP) is responsible for cess collection, issue and renewal of trader licences in the committee. Normally, an Assistant Agricultural Officer from the department is appointed on deputation to this post. However, a junior-level officer from within the Committee has been given this responsibility. The market cess collection has also drastically reduced over the years due to alleged financial mismanagement and administrative lapses. As a result, the Market Committee is now facing a severe financial crisis, he said. The government should immediately intervene and order a thorough probe into the irregularities, Mr. Chandrasekhar said.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Abandon mini harbour-cum-port project in Puducherry: Water users and farmers' collective urges govt.
The Bangaaru Vaickal Neeraadhara Koottamaippu, a water users and farmers' collective, has urged the Puducherry government to drop the move to revive the mini harbour-cum-port project at Moorthikuppam-Pudukuppam in the Union Territory (UT). In a letter addressed to Lt. Governor K. Kailashnathan, the president of the association V. Chandrasekhar said the Puducherry government had entered into an agreement with IIT, Madras, to a conduct a feasibility study for the creation of a fishing harbour at Moorthikuppam-Pudukuppam in Bahour commune at a cost of ₹93.22 lakh. 'We are completely at a loss to understand why the government is spending huge amounts for a project feasibility study, when already two such proposals — one by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the second by the World Bank — have been rejected. The project is completely unviable and would result in severe environmental damage to the entire coast of Puducherry, including the artisanal fishermen in the area,' Mr. Chandrasekhar said. The proposed project is in complete violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules and will result in irreversible destruction of agricultural lands upstream of the Mullodai channel. No Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) had been carried out so far, and the government should not go ahead with the project, he said. 'Disastrous' According to the collective, the project would turn out to be disastrous. If the fishing harbour is built at the southern tip of Puducherry's coast, then the entire stretch of the remaining coastline would be completely eroded, destroying the livelihoods of fishermen living to the north of the proposed harbour. It will completely wipe out all tourism-related development, including the Blue Flag beach at Puducherry and the archaeological site of Arikamedu. Stating that there was no natural connection between the Mullodai lagoon and the sea, Mr. Chandrasekhar said that cutting open the lagoon to the coast would be a disastrous move. The naturally occurring sand dunes in Nallavadu, Panithittu, Narambai, and Manapet coastal villages will be destroyed, resulting in sea water intrusion into the deep aquifers and thus reaching upstream upto Bahour. The collective demanded that the government abandon the project with immediate effect. The government should also seek an explanation from the Public Works Department and concerned authorities for 'hiding' the facts related to the project, it said.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Farmers urge Puducherry Lt Governor to halt revival of Moorthikuppam fishing harbour project
PUDUCHERRY: A farmers' association has appealed to Lt Governor K Kailashnathan to halt the revival of the controversial fishing harbour project at Moorthikuppam-Pudukuppam in Puducherry's Bahour commune, citing severe environmental and livelihood concerns. In a detailed representation, V Chandrasekhar, [resident of the Bangaaru Vaickal Neeraadhara Koottamaippu, condemned the move as ecologically hazardous and economically unsound. His plea comes in the wake of a government advertisement showcasing its achievements, including a recent agreement with IIT Madras to conduct a feasibility study for the harbour at a cost of Rs 93.22 lakh. The project, Chandrasekhar noted, had previously been rejected twice—by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the World Bank—over fears of significant ecological damage. He alleged the government is attempting to resurrect a long-abandoned project that could devastate coastal ecosystems and displace local artisanal fishing communities. According to the letter, the harbour would worsen coastal erosion already intensified by the Puducherry port, putting the Blue Flag-certified beach and the historic site of Arikamedu at risk. It also warned of irreversible damage to the southern coastline, including sand dunes in Nallavadu, Panithittu, Narambai, and Manapet. This, he said, could lead to saltwater intrusion into aquifers, threatening agriculture in the Bahour region. Chandrasekhar further asserted that the project violates Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, pointing out that the Mullodai lagoon lacks a natural sea connection. He described any artificial breach by removing the sand dunes and cutting open to the coast as 'suicidal' for the region's ecology. The representation criticised the recurring presentation of the project to the new Lt Governor as a fresh initiative, ignoring its history of rejection and controversy. Chandrasekhar called for the immediate cancellation of the IIT Madras agreement, a halt to any financial disbursements related to the feasibility study, and an investigation into alleged suppression of facts and potential corruption within the Fisheries Department. He also attached a Fisheries Department document (05-TOT_Fisheries), which contains press clippings and internal notes that further underscore the project's problematic past.
