TN farmers grieve over changes in compensation

damages ravaged by wild animals. They alleged that the department has reduced the compensation by fixing a ceiling of Rs 25,000 per acre instead of the earlier method of issuing compensation per damaged banana plantain.

P Kandasamy, general secretary of a farmers association said, “The forest department was providing Rs 100 per banana plantain as compensation for damage caused by wild animals. Over 1,000 banana plantain can be planted in one acre of land. For instance, a compensation of Rs 25,000 should be provided if 250 banana plantains are damaged, but farmers can get up to Rs 6,250 against the damage of 250 plantains as they claim that only 0.25 acres of land have been affected.”