TIRUPUR: Farmers and residents staged a novel protest by planting saplings on two damaged roads in Tirupur district, demanding immediate relaying of two key stretches connecting multiple villages to the Avinashi – Avinashipalayam National Highway (NH381).Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association Tirupur city secretary Ramesh said the roads from above the Velampatti toll plaza to Kovilpalayam and from the eastern side of the toll plaza to Angovil were riddled with potholes and craters. He said commuters, farmers and the public using the routes daily were put to hardship, while school and college students faced difficulties and two-wheeler riders were frequently involved in accidents.Ramesh said repeated petitions seeking repair of the roads had not yielded action for over a year, prompting villagers to join the sapling-planting protest on the damaged roads. He added that the roads become unusable during rain due to waterlogging.He said after the protest announcement, information was received that the block development officer had sent proposals to the district collector seeking funds of Rs 73 lakh for relaying the 1.6km Velampatti toll plaza–Kovilpalayam road and Rs 1.73 crore for the 2.2-km toll plaza east–Angovil road.
