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Tobacco farmers storm board meet

Our Bureau

GUNTUR, Jan. 19

AGITATED, irate tobacco farmers stormed the Tobacco Board here on Friday, demanding that the board enforce the crop holiday in right earnest and take stringent steps against the farmers who violated the board decision by planting crops unauthorisedly.

It is estimated that there may be 2,000-3,000 acres under Virginia tobacco cultivation in the State in violation of the crop holiday decision taken by the board and upheld by the AP High Court.

As the board met here to discuss the recommendations of the sub-committee regarding the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Board Act, 1975, farmers gathered in large numbers at the board premises demanding steps to plough the standing tobacco crop raised by some farmers unauthorisedly.

When the Executive Director and in-charge Chairman, Mr. K.J.B.V Subrahmanyam, explained to them that the board did not have the powers to do so and that it would have to seek the permission of the High Court and the help of the State Government, he was s houted down by the farmers.

Dr. Y. Sivaji, President of the Virginia Tobacco Farmers' Association, said the board was ``under the mandate of the AP High Court to punish those who had violated the crop holiday''.

Quoting the verdict of Mr. Justice Swamy, he said the judge had clearly stated that the ``erring agencies involved in the tobacco industry'' should be prosecuted. The board's ``inaction and dilly-dallying'' amounted to contempt of court, he added.

The meeting was inconclusive but the Executive Director assured the farmers that High Court would be moved by the board to get permission to plough the tobacco crop. The violators would be prosecuted and deregistered, with the deregistration period rangi ng from 3 to 5 years, he said.

The State Government would be involved in the process and the Union Commerce Ministry would be informed, he said.