TN salt producers seek CM's intervention to renew leases on government land
Chennai, Aug 10
Salt manufacturers operating on state government-owned land in Thirukazhukundram taluk near Kalpakkam and at Kadambadi have sought Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's intervention to expedite the renewal of their leases, saying prolonged delays could affect hundreds of families dependent on the traditional industry.
Around 3,500 acres of government land had originally been leased for salt production in the region.
However, production is now confined to about 900 acres, with nearly 150 families depending directly or indirectly on the salt pans for their livelihood.
Industry representatives said the Commissioner of Land Administration had already directed the respective district Collectors to renew the leases. However, the process has been delayed in some areas, creating uncertainty among producers and workers over the continuation of operations.
Salt production is seasonal and depends heavily on favourable weather conditions. Workers said better weather this year had allowed production to continue for a few additional days, providing them with an opportunity to earn more before the season ends.
However, several smaller salt pans operated by individuals in areas such as Kovalam and Kelambakkam have reportedly shut down following the non-extension of leases.
Industry representatives fear more units could face a similar situation unless the pending renewals are cleared.
Salt pan operators pointed out that many of these lands have been used for salt manufacturing for several decades and have limited scope for alternative activities. The groundwater beneath the lands has a high concentration of salinity, while large portions are also flooded by inland water during the monsoon.
The problem over lease renewal is not restricted to the Kalpakkam region.
Similar state government-owned salt pan lands are located in Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi districts, where small producers and workers are also seeking greater security over their operations.
Trade union representatives in Thoothukudi are planning to approach the state government with a demand that such lands be handed over to individual operators who are currently working on them. They have also expressed concern over reports that some of the salt pan lands could be leased to multinational companies. Unions have maintained that any decision on the future of these properties should safeguard the interests of small leaseholders and workers dependent on the industry.
Tamil Nadu also has salt pan lands owned by the Union government. The issue of renewal of leases relating to those properties is currently under arbitration.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see how a traditional industry like salt production is still so crucial for livelihoods in Tamil Nadu. I hope the government prioritizes the small workers over corporate interests. The weather being good this year should not be the only reason these workers get to earn a decent living.
The government is sitting on files while families are worried about their future! These salt pans have existed for decades, and the groundwater is too saline for anything else. It's not like they can just switch to farming. Our leaders need to understand the ground reality and act quickly. Also, the union's point about MNCs taking over is scary. We should not let corporate giants muscle out our local workers.
Sad state of affairs. These issues keep getting delayed because no one in the bureaucracy cares until it becomes a crisis. The lease renewal should be a simple administrative procedure, but here we are talking about CM intervention. And if the land has been used for salt production for generations, the existing leaseholders should have the first right to renewal. The Thoothukudi union's demand to hand over lands to individual operators is very sensible.
This is what happens when policies are made in air-conditioned offices without talking to the people on the ground. Salt production is a seasonal activity, and these delays mean the workers already lost precious time. I really hope the CM's office takes this seriously and clears the renewals before the season ends. Also, the central government land cases being stuck in arbitration is another headache. The system needs to be more responsive. 🤞
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