Chennai, Aug 24:
Observing that standing crops to the extent of 2,000 acres were damaged due to heavy rains in the Cauvery delta region, especially in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts, the opposition AIADMK on Sunday urged the TVK government headed by Chief Minister Vijay to provide a compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre to the farmers.
In a statement here, AIADMK General Secretary and Legislature Party leader Edappadi.K.Palaniswami said the government should also depute officials from the Agriculture and Revenue departments to make an on the spot assessment of crop damages in the delta district and announce the compensation.
Stating that due to heavy rains for the last two days in the delta region standing Kuruvai paddy crops to an extent of 2,000 acres were damaged turning the livelihood of farmers, who were readying for the harvest, upside down, he said the farmers were in tears and it was the duty of the coalition TVK government headed by Vijay to act immediately and wipe their tears.
He said since the sluice gates of the Mettur dam was not opened for irrigation on the scheduled date of June 12 due to poor storage level, the farmers, banking on the ground water sources, have brrowed loans and taken up Kuruvai crop cultivation.
At a time when they are readying for harvest, sudden rains during the last two days have submerged the standing crops causing deep anguish among the farmers, who were already in a state of anger over the government for not honouring its pre-poll promise of complete waiver of farm loans availed through cooperative banks.
Taking a dig at the government for announcing farm loan waivers in installments, Palaniswami said the government should now come to the aid of the farmers, depute officials from Agriculture and Revenue departments, estimate the crop losses and provide a compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre to all the farmers in the delta districts.