Two farmers from Nalurpalayam have urged District Collector to initiate action against a private fertilizer company for supplying them with fertilizers that completely damaged their crops, resulting in a loss of Rs. 11 lakhs.

In their petition to the Collector, T.N. Hariharan, the duo – Arun Prakash and C Mohanraj – said representatives of the Satyam Bio had approached them last month and handed over them some fertilizers. “They assured us that the produce would increase by at least 40 per cent. We tried the fertilizers and within four days all our vegetable crops in our five-acre land dried completely,” Arun said and added that he was not even sure whether the soil was now fertile for our next sowing.

“We had invested close to Rs. 11 lakhs and all our investment and the crops have gone now,” said Mohanraj.

K.A. Subramanian, Secretary, Tamizhaga Katchi Sarpata Vivasayigal Sangham, said several farmers have also been affected. “Farmers in near by villages have been affected. We don’t have the exact numbers. Farm workers have developed rashes all over their body after spraying the fertilizer,” he aleged.

They urged the Collector to order for a lab test on the fertilizers and take necessary action in this regard.