more-in A petition was submitted to Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao at the monthly farmers’ grievance meeting on Friday alleging irregularities in the implementation of kudimaramathu scheme, intended for maintenance of water bodies in the district. N. Palanichamy, State president of Tamil Nadu Sugarcane Farmers’ Association, in his petition, alleged that contracts had been given for desilting of two tanks, where there was no necessity. He said that the Uppulakudi and the Periyakulam tanks in Thumbaipatti had already been dug around 10 to 20 feet to meet the demand for soil during the laying of Tiruchi-Melur four-lane highway. No work done “However, these tanks have been selected for desilting under kudimaramathu scheme at a cost of ?10 lakh each. There is no work done,” he claimed. He also alleged that the ripraps, which were placed a few years back in the tanks to strengthen the bunds, were now missing, raising suspicion that private contractors could have removed and sold them with the connivance of Public Works Department officials. The meeting witnessed heated exchanges as the PWD official, who rose to respond to the allegation, remarked that Mr. Palanichamy was in the habit of making baseless allegations, which attracted strong condemnation from the farmers. The farmers calmed down after Mr. Veera Raghava Rao, who was presiding over the meeting, asked the Public Works Department official not to make personal attacks on anyone. In denial Denying all the allegations, the PWD official said that the ripraps had not gone missing and anyone could inspect the tanks to verify it.

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