Namakkal farmers allege irregularities in sugarcane procurement for Pongal, hold protest

NAMAKKAL: Farmers blocked a sugarcane truck and sat on a road near Pallipalayam in Namakkal district on Tuesday, alleging that cooperative department officials took bribes and committed irregularities in the procurement of sugarcane for distribution as part of the state govt’s Pongal gift to rice card holders.After farmers had complained that officials were lax in procurement this year, district collector Durga Moorthy conducted a field inspection recently and ordered immediate procurement of sugarcane from the farmers. Once procurement started, farmers alleged that officials had taken bribes.On Tuesday, farmers protested near the Samayasangili area, alleging that the cooperative department officials were biased in the procurement. They alleged that officials procured sugarcane only from those who had given high commission. Officials allegedly demanded 400 sugarcanes free of cost for every 4,000 sugarcanes procured.During the protest on Tuesday, farmers blocked a truck that reached the area to load sugarcane. They sat on the road. The protesters dispersed after the Pallipalayam police pacified them.