NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) clearing fertile lands acquired by the corporate in Melvalayamadevi village in Cuddalore district
| Photo Credit: KUMAR SS
Amid the raging controversy over NLC India Ltd.’s (NLCIL) destruction of fertile farmlands in Melvalayamadevi village close to Chidambaram in Cuddalore district final week, two MLAs, V.P. Nagaimaali of Kilvelur and M. Chinnadurai of Gandarvakottai belonging to the Communist Party of India (M) had been prevented by the police from visiting Melvalayamadevi village on Tuesday.
Mr. Nagaimaali and Mr. Chinnadurai, accompanied by members of the CPI (M), had been stopped close to Sethiyathope. Even although they assured the police that they had been solely going there to fulfill the farmers, the uniformed personnel prevented them from persevering with their journey.
Mr. Nagaimaali objected to the “high-handed” behaviour of the police and charged that NLCIL was resorting to oppressive measures in opposition to farmers and their supporters. He accused the police of making a tense state of affairs with the large-scale deployment of police personnel within the space. The method of the police was not justified and it uncovered their intent to transform the entire space right into a battleground, he alleged.
Condemning the destruction of fertile lands by NLCIL, Mr. Nagaimaali questioned why the NLCIL administration, which waited for 10 years to take possession of the acquired lands, couldn’t wait for an additional two months for the farmers to reap their crops. NLCIL was labouring beneath the mistaken assumption that they might do no matter they wished to do with the assistance of the police; this confirmed their adamant method., he mentioned.
The NLCIL administration had promised to offer compensation and everlasting employment, amongst different issues to farmers who gave away their land to the Corporation, nevertheless it had not honoured these guarantees. NLCIL had not offered a patta to even one landowner to this point, he alleged.
The MLA additionally urged Chief Minister M.Okay. Stalin to instantly intervene and be sure that the real calls for of farmers had been met. He added that farmers’ associations would resort to a street roko protest at Melvalayamadevi, Vriddhachalam and Cuddalore on August 8, 2023 in protest in opposition to NLC India Ltd.