Coimbatore: Residents of Semmandampalayam village have alleged irregularities in the auction of coconut trees belonging to the Makali Amman temple. They petitioned the district collector on Monday, seeking cancellation of the current auction and called for a fresh tender process.The temple, administered by the executive officer of the Karumathampatti Viralikadu Chenniyandavar temple, owns 33 acres of land with approximately 20,401 coconut trees, which previously generated an annual revenue of at least ₹50 lakh through direct harvest and auction by temple officials.According to the petitioners, the auction process was changed to a public tender, which they claimed resulted in collusion among former temple officials and village administration officials. They alleged that the trees were sold to a person from Karumathampatti Pudur for a mere amount of ₹19 lakh annually.The complaint states that auction participants were instructed to pay the full bid amount upfront, discouraging potential bidders from participating. In a troubling twist, after the auction, it was reportedly announced that successful bidders would have 15 days for payment. The petitioners alleged that officials exploited their position to secure the auction, while the coconuts were still harvested and sold under the supervision of former officials.They also sought prompt action against those involved in the scam and demanded a transparent re-auction process to recover lost temple revenue.
