Wild boar menace has farmers up in arms
The farmers brought the son of the deceased farmer, Kalimuthu, to the Collectrate and submitted a petition seeking ₹10 lakh compensation for the loss of banana crop and another ₹10 lakh for the family of the deceased farmer.
A senior farmer, N.A. Ramachandra Raja, said that the Government Order to cull wild boars issued in January 2025 has not been implemented in the district.
Deputy Director, Srivilliputtur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve, Devaraj, said that district-level committee headed by the District Collector, DD (SMTR), Project Director (District Rural Development Agency) and District Revenue Officer has been formed.
Similarly, village-level committees comprising foresters and village administrative officers have been formed.
'We request the farmers in areas that are highly affected by wild boars to give a written request which would be sent to the State Government for further action. Shooting down the wild boars in open areas would lead to loss of life of people in cross firing,' he said.
He also said that a cage has been set up in two places for catching the animals.
However, the farmers were not convinced by his reply.
They said that the forest department has come up with a highly non-feasible action plan.
The officials are camping during day time, while the wild boars come out of their hideouts only during nights, one of them claimed.
Mr. Arjunan said that it was the concerns raised by farmers of Virudhunagar district that such a Government Order was issued for culling the wild boars, but no action has been taken.
Another farmer, R. Rampandian, said that the forest department officials should leave the issue with the farmers who could handle the wild boars.
Mr. Arjunan wanted the cooperation of the forest officials in allowing farmers to chase the wild boars back into the forest. 'All that you should do is not book case against farmers,' he said. He said that Kerala Government was encouraging farmers to shoot down wild boars.
The issues of procurement of mangoes and cotton by regulated markets was raised to help the farmers get better price.
Farmer Vijaymurugan complained that coconut trees, which were grown on around 30,000 acres of land in Virudhunagar district, did not have insurance. Similarly, insurance of cattle heads was also discussed at the meeting.
District Revenue Officer R. Rajendran, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to Collector Nachiyarammal, Revenue Divisional Officer, Sattur, Kanagaraj, were among those who were present.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- The Hindu
Wild boar menace has farmers up in arms
Farmers expressed concern over unabated destruction of crops by wild boars which had claimed the life of a farmer near Tiruchuli, during the monthly farmers' grievances redress meeting held here on Friday. The farmers brought the son of the deceased farmer, Kalimuthu, to the Collectrate and submitted a petition seeking ₹10 lakh compensation for the loss of banana crop and another ₹10 lakh for the family of the deceased farmer. A senior farmer, N.A. Ramachandra Raja, said that the Government Order to cull wild boars issued in January 2025 has not been implemented in the district. Deputy Director, Srivilliputtur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve, Devaraj, said that district-level committee headed by the District Collector, DD (SMTR), Project Director (District Rural Development Agency) and District Revenue Officer has been formed. Similarly, village-level committees comprising foresters and village administrative officers have been formed. 'We request the farmers in areas that are highly affected by wild boars to give a written request which would be sent to the State Government for further action. Shooting down the wild boars in open areas would lead to loss of life of people in cross firing,' he said. He also said that a cage has been set up in two places for catching the animals. However, the farmers were not convinced by his reply. They said that the forest department has come up with a highly non-feasible action plan. The officials are camping during day time, while the wild boars come out of their hideouts only during nights, one of them claimed. Mr. Arjunan said that it was the concerns raised by farmers of Virudhunagar district that such a Government Order was issued for culling the wild boars, but no action has been taken. Another farmer, R. Rampandian, said that the forest department officials should leave the issue with the farmers who could handle the wild boars. Mr. Arjunan wanted the cooperation of the forest officials in allowing farmers to chase the wild boars back into the forest. 'All that you should do is not book case against farmers,' he said. He said that Kerala Government was encouraging farmers to shoot down wild boars. The issues of procurement of mangoes and cotton by regulated markets was raised to help the farmers get better price. Farmer Vijaymurugan complained that coconut trees, which were grown on around 30,000 acres of land in Virudhunagar district, did not have insurance. Similarly, insurance of cattle heads was also discussed at the meeting. District Revenue Officer R. Rajendran, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to Collector Nachiyarammal, Revenue Divisional Officer, Sattur, Kanagaraj, were among those who were present.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- The Hindu
Confusion over HSRP enforcement leaves Hyderabad commuters frustrated
Motorists in Hyderabad are facing confusion over inconsistent enforcement of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) by traffic police, with many claiming they have been penalised despite receiving no clear instructions on how to comply with the mandate. Vehicle owners, particularly those with older registration numbers, have reported receiving challans ranging from ₹100 to ₹300 for what are being classified as 'irregular number plates'. What has sparked discontent is not the fine itself, but the lack of clarity on how to obtain HSRPs, especially for vehicles registered before the current system was introduced in 2019. Aditya Rao, a private employee working in Gachibowli, said he received a challan for an 'irregular number plate' for his two-wheeler in December 2024. 'The vehicle was a 2016 purchase. Back then we didn't have this system of getting your number plates from the showroom like it is now. I got it done in due time and honestly I wasn't aware of the violation until I was slapped with the challan,' he said. Other residents shared similar concerns. Arun Abraham, a resident of Sanathnagar, was issued a challan in June 2025 for his car, registered in 2014. 'The vehicle was registered before HSRPs became mandatory. There has been no official notification or instruction from the State government on how owners of older vehicles can make the switch,' he said. Jurisdictional overlaps are compounding the confusion. Residents say traffic police stations across different zones, Hyderabad and Cyberabad, appear to be enforcing the rule with varying interpretations. Arun noted that although he resides within Cyberabad limits, he was fined in the Hyderabad zone. 'I went to the Begumpet traffic police station to understand the reason. They acknowledged that they had been asked to issue challans but did not know how to facilitate the conversion to HSRP. They simply directed me to the RTO,' he said. This situation unfolds in the backdrop of a planned enforcement drive by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police in coordination with the Telangana Transport Department. The aim was to ensure compliance with HSRP requirements, mandated under the Motor Vehicles Act, as a safety and traceability measure. However, the lack of preparatory groundwork is now creating more chaos than compliance. HSRPs are designed to be tamper-proof and are linked to a centralised database. While their phased rollout has been underway across India, implementation in Telangana, particularly Hyderabad, has been uneven. The lack of a formal Government Order specifying how and when owners of older vehicles must switch to HSRPs has only added to the confusion. Many commuters see the ongoing enforcement as premature in the absence of such official clarity. Several vehicle owners who attempted to book appointments online reported technical issues. 'I am trying to get an appointment on but it keeps giving me an error asking for a 'correct registration number'. All details, including chassis and engine numbers, are being entered correctly, yet I keep getting these error messages,' said one user on Reddit. Another user wrote, 'Unable to apply for HSRP—facing the same error for Telangana. Tried contacting HSRP support but received no reply. All documents are within the validity period.'
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- The Hindu
Stipends still unpaid as 64 MBBS interns remain suspended by Telangana private medical college
The Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences (CAIMS), a private medical college in Telangana's Karimnagar, is facing criticism from students and medical associations after suspending 64 MBBS interns who were protesting over unpaid stipends. The interns, who have been demanding rightful payments for over two months, were suspended for a week starting July 3, allegedly for blocking vehicles during a protest on campus. While the college claims the action was based on a disciplinary committee's findings, the students allege it is a retaliatory move aimed at silencing dissent. The suspension order, issued on July 3, stated 'The following interns of the institute are suspended from their duties for a period of one week with effect from July 3 to July 10. They have to resume duties on July 11.' However, the students claim the administration has continued to withhold stipends even after the suspension and is now threatening them with stricter duty schedules once they return. 'If protesting is wrong, why doesn't the college first comply with the Government Order and transfer our stipends?' asked another intern. Attempts by The Hindu to reach S.A. Asaim, principal of CAIMS, for comment went unanswered. As per a 2023 Government Order, MBBS interns in Telangana, whether in government or private medical colleges are entitled to a monthly stipend of ₹25,906. A revised order issued on June 28, 2025, further increased the stipend to ₹29,792. Yet, students at CAIMS allege they are being paid only ₹2,000 per month, in violation of these mandates. The issue has now drawn national attention. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), urging immediate intervention. 'There are 23 private medical colleges in Telangana where interns are deployed in affiliated hospitals. Despite repeated directives, most of these colleges continue to underpay interns. Some are even collecting ₹5,000 per year as a so-called 'stipend fee' and then paying only ₹2,000 monthly,' FAIMA stated. The association has demanded an inquiry into the events at CAIMS on July 1 and called for disciplinary action against those responsible for suspending the interns. It also urged the NMC to ensure that no intern is denied a completion certificate or subjected to academic harassment for participating in peaceful protests.
