Latest news with #TamizhagaVivasayigalSangam
Time of India
25-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Coimbatore farmers Say Foresters Are Refusing To Cull Wild Boars
Coimbatore: A farmer, P V Udayakumar, of Papanickenpalayam near Thudiyalur on the outskirts of the city, depends on banana cultivation to fend a family of five. While he recently cultivated 4,500 banana plants on his four acres of farmland, he has already lost 800 of them to the raids by wild boars in the past six months. With wild boar raids becoming the order of the day, Udayakumar says he is robbed of his livelihood. "Wild boars enter our fields in a pack of 50 or so. Their population has drastically increased. I am facing losses daily owing to the wild boar raids. If this situation persists, I am sure to lose all my banana plants to the wild boars," says Udayakumar. While forest officials had visited the field to assess the damage, he hasn't received any compensation from the department so far. "They only suggest electric fencing for protection. When we ask about culling, they have no answers," says Udayakumar. V R Ramakrishnan, of Narasipuram in Thondamuthur block, is another farmer affected by wild boar raids. "It's the season to grow turmeric and shallot (small onion) in our area. Wild boars enter our fields and dig nearly a foot deep into the soil, destroying the crops. I have already incurred a loss of Rs50,000," he says. According to Ramakrishnan, forest officers have been rejecting their demand for scheduled culling of wild boars, citing lack of trained personnel and proper firearms. "We wouldn't be making this demand had wild boars remained in the forests. The govt must treat this issue with urgency and act on a war footing. Otherwise, farmers wouldn't survive." In Kerala, he says, farmers are permitted to cull wild boars with prior approval. "If the forest department here lacks manpower or firearms, farmers should be allowed to cull wild boars with govt permission." G Ranganathan, state executive committee member, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, says the farm workers are afraid to work near waterways and dense vegetation because of frequent wild boar sightings and attacks. "These animals are fast, aggressive and unpredictable. Many people have been injured." He urged the local bodies to clear the bushes in and around waterways, where wild boars tend to hide. When contacted, district forest officer N Jayaraj said special teams were formed in each village panchayat and revenue administration unit as per the govt order to mitigate wild boar menace. "These teams are tasked with driving away, capturing or culling wild boars in accordance with the govt order." According to him, 12 wild boars were captured and another two were culled in the Coimbatore forest division in the past two months. "We currently have three large cages, seven nets and seven smaller cages for capturing the animals. More than 100 weapons are also available for culling." He says the poor solid waste management is contributing to the rise in wild boar numbers. "These animals thrive on food and vegetable waste dumped along the borders and hide among bushes near the water bodies. Local bodies have been advised to manage waste more effectively to address the wild boar menace."
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers' associations seek update on Noyyal river restoration project
Farmers' associations have sought removal of encroachments along the Noyyal river embankments and prevention of sewage water entry, and have emphasised on implementation of the project for its restoration. They seek to know the outcome of the ₹990 crore project proposed by the Coimbatore and Tiruppur Corporations for restoration of Noyyal river under the 'Nadanthai Vaazhi Cauvery'. The project entails 40% contribution by the State government and 60% from National River Restoration Fund, managed by the Ministry of Jal Sakthi. The project is supposed to be implemented under the Ministry's National Mission for Clean Ganga. Noyyal, a tributary of Cauvery river, was brought under the river restoration project along with Adyar, Cooum, Vaigai and Vennar rivers in Tamil Nadu. The works proposed include collection, transportation and treatment of municipal sewage, river front development, low-cost sanitation, electric crematoria, and improved wood-based crematoria. After taking stock of the extent of pollution in the Noyyal flowing through Coimbatore city on Friday, president of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers' Associations of Tamil Nadu and coordinator of the Samyuktha Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) P.R. Pandian said the once majestic river originating in the hills has now been reduced to a sewage channel. Industrial effluent and sewage have caused the risk of spread of infectious diseases. Safeguarding of the river was vital for the upkeep of the health of the residents in the city. There was also the risk of groundwater depletion due to the neglect of the river, Mr. Pandian said, urging the State government to rope in industrialists to develop a masterplan for protecting the river. In the recent meeting of the grievances redress session for farmers, the district unit of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam made a representation to the district administration seeking update on the massive project proposed to be undertaken by the Central and State governments for restoration of the river. Just as the Noyyal river in the South of Coimbatore, the Kaushika river in North Coimbatore must also be given importance for restoration in the interests of the several thousands of farmers with small holdings, district unit president of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam N. Dhandapani and secretary G. Ranganathan emphasised.
