AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has urged the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a thorough assessment of crop damage caused by heavy rains during Cyclone Benzal and provide full compensation to affected farmers.
In a statement, Palaniswami highlighted that the torrential rains over the past week have disrupted normal life in several districts, including the Delta region. He pointed out that over 1 lakh acres of paddy fields in districts like Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai have been completely submerged and damaged by floodwaters.
He criticized the DMK government for failing to implement crop insurance for Kuruvai cultivation over the past three years, which has left farmers unable to claim the insurance benefit of ₹84,000 per hectare. Palaniswami added that his earlier demand to provide ₹34,000 per acre as compensation for flood-damaged crops was also ignored by the government.
The AIADMK leader stated that farmers, who had taken loans to cultivate their crops, are now facing severe losses due to the flooding. He accused the government of conducting limited field inspections and neglecting large areas affected by the floods.
Palaniswami demanded that revenue and agriculture officials visit the affected areas, conduct detailed surveys, and provide full compensation to the farmers. He also urged the government to address the flood damage on a war footing, restore affected areas, and provide immediate relief to those impacted.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for immediate government action to mitigate the suffering of farmers and residents in rain-affected districts across Tamil Nadu.