The Tamil Nadu Government is planning to auction the scam-hit emu birds. Over 12,000 emus were left abandoned by 21 companies in and around Erode and Salem districts.
Sources in the Government said the decision will be informed at the special court for the Tamil Nadu Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act and after getting the nod from the Court the Department will proceed with the auction.
The money from the proceed will be distributed to the depositors.
It may be noted around 21 companies have cheated depositors under Ponni Scheme. The scam resulted thousands of depositors to lose around Rs 1,000 crore.
Besides, over 12,000 emu birds were abandoned by the promoters of these companies after the scam came to light.
Sources further said that the animal husbandry department has sought Rs 3 crore from the government to feed these birds. It may be noted, already the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa released Rs 1 crore for this purpose.
Besides, to maintain these farms, the government has also arranged for local labour through village panchayat presidents and local body officials on an adhoc basis.
Meanwhile, a report quoting Animal Husbandry Department stated that the cost for maintaining 12,145 birds for one month is Rs 1.13 crore. The cost of 50 tonnes of feed is approximately Rs 11 lakh and total funds required for maintaining the farms for three months is Rs 3.5 crore.
The Department also proposing to undertake responsibility of rearing only the birds in farms till they are disposed off in due process of law, said the sources.
